Justices Mohammed Maina of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, has convicted and sentenced Alhaji Bashir Tanko to 21 years imprisonment for fraud.
Tanko was re-arraigned on November 18, 2024, by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a one-count amended charge bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of ₦33.5 million.
The charge reads: “That you, Bashir Tanko Tahir whilst being the Chief Executive Officer and Alter Ego of SAHEL BUILDING AND ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria and Sahel Building and Engineering Company Limited and Musa Umaru (now at large), sometimes in 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly misappropriated the entire sum of ₦33,500,000.00 (Thirty Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), out of ₦38,500,000.00 (Thirty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), being paid to your Company account domiciled with Access Bank with account number; 0024320657 bearing Sahel Building Engineering Limited, by a Non-Governmental Organisation ACTED being the money belonging to one ANNUR ADAM and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under section 309 of the same Law.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, S.O. Saka, Faruk Muhammad and Abdulmalik Aliyu, presented six witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits in the course of the trial.
Satisfied with the prosecution, Justice Maina convicted and sentenced Tahir to one year imprisonment with an option of ₦200,000 fine.
The judge further ordered the convict to restitute the petitioner the sum of ₦33,500,000.00, or in default to serve 20 years imprisonment.
His road to the Correctional Centre began when he dishonestly diverted monies sent to his company account after the execution of a contract awarded to the petitioner who used the convict’s company.
