Ex-lawmaker sentenced to 154 years imprisonment for N1.4bn fraud

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Monday, April 25, found Daudu guilty of 77 out of the 208 count-charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was jailed for two years on each count, which is expected to run concurrently.

The charges against him bordered on conspiracy, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N1.4 billion.

The ex-lawmaker had been standing trial, as the Caretaker Chairman of the Ogori/Mangogo Local Government Area of Kogi State between January and July 2008, since April, 2010 alongside a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Albert Adesina.

But the court discharged and acquitted Adesina, who was only charged with one count.

Report said the trial of Daudu was initially before Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja but was later transferred to the Lokoja Division of the Federal High Court before Justice Ekwo, where Daudu and Adesina were re-arraigned twice on amended charges.

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The prosecution counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu, was said to have provided 13 witnesses, and tendered 47 exhibits to prove the charges against Daudu.

While dismissing arguments by Daudu's lawyer, Mr. O.J. Onoja (SAN), who presented seven witnesses to prove his client's 'innocence', the court said that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.