Court jails 2 LG officials for stealing 180 bags of rice meant for IDPs

dimeji akinloye

May 4, 2017 7:04 PM

The convicts, Bulama Zangebe, a counsellor, and Modu Bulama, a storekeeper, worked with the Mafa Local Government Council of the state.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) receiving aid.

A Federal High Court in Maiduguri,

They were jailed on Thursday, May 4, for misappropriating 180 bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The convicts, Bulama Zangebe, a counsellor, and Modu Bulama, a storekeeper, worked with the Mafa Local Government Council of the state.

They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and criminal misappropriation.

The convicts were said to have colluded with one Shettima Maina, a former chairman of the local government, to commit the criminal act.

Maina, who was the first defendant, was declared "at large" throughout the hearing of the case.

He is said to be in custody of the military for allegedly harboring a wanted Boko Haram kingpin in his house.

Zangebe and Bulama were also convicted for converting N1.4 million, being proceed from the sale of the rice stolen from the IDP camp, into their personal use.

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The convicts equally converted another N585,000, being the proceed from the sale of yet another 65 bags of rice stolen from the camp.

It was gathered that the rice in question was donated to IDPs

by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and clearly marked "not for sale".

The Presiding Judge, Justice Fadawu Umar, said that the two were found guilty of the two-count charge brought against them by the EFCC.

dimeji akinloye