A Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has sentenced two senior officials of the Sakaba Local Government Area to prison for contract fraud and abuse of office involving the diversion of ₦54 million in public funds.
The convicts, identified as a former Sole Administrator and Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Abubakar Bawa Makuku, and the Director of Finance and Supply, Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, were found guilty on multiple counts of corruption and financial misconduct brought against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Delivering judgment, Justice E. Gakko held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, describing the actions of the defendants as a “betrayal of public trust and a gross abuse of official responsibility.”
“Public office is a position of trust, not an avenue for self-enrichment. The court must send a strong signal that such conduct will not go unpunished,” the judge ruled.
According to ICPC spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, the case arose from an investigation that uncovered how Mr. Fakai withdrew ₦54 million from the coffers of Sakaba Local Government in six tranches of ₦9 million each — a deliberate attempt to evade standard financial reporting procedures.
Similarly, Mr. Makuku was found to have corruptly awarded contracts without due process and personally pocketed ₦10 million meant for official engagements.
Mr. Bakare noted that the conviction underscores the ICPC’s resolve to hold public officers accountable, regardless of their status or the time elapsed since the offence.
“This judgment reinforces our Commission’s commitment to ensuring that those who abuse their offices for personal gain are held accountable,” he stated. “We commend the judiciary for supporting the anti-corruption fight through courageous rulings like this.”
In the ruling, the court sentenced Mr. Fakai to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦2.5 million fine, while Mr. Makuku received four years’ imprisonment or a ₦2.5 million fine, in addition to a ₦1 million compensation payment to the local government.
The ICPC described the outcome as a “milestone in its ongoing efforts to promote integrity and transparency at the grassroots level,” stressing that local government funds must serve the people rather than enrich individuals.
“Local government allocations are meant for community development, not private pockets,” the Commission stated. “We will continue to pursue all cases of financial misconduct, no matter how long ago they occurred.”
The case, which dates back to 2016, marks another major victory for the ICPC in its sustained campaign against corruption in Nigeria’s local government system.
