An ex-Rep condemned to five years in prison for defrauding N212 million
Former House of Representatives member, Mansur Ali Mashi, once a representative of the Mashi Dutsi federal constituency, has received a grim fate on this fateful day of June 16. After enduring a grueling 12-year trial, he has been found guilty and sentenced to 5 years behind bars for perpetrating a staggering N212 million fraud.
Mansur Ali Mashi stands accused of orchestrating a scheme of deceit, enlisting the aid of three bank officials: Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu, and Muazu Abdu. Together, they faced charges of conspiracy and obtaining funds through false pretenses. The charges relate to their alleged involvement in securing a loan facility worth N212,439,552 from a prominent bank, deceitfully diverting the funds for personal gain, and employing fictitious companies as their instrument of deception.
As the court proceedings unfolded on that somber Thursday, June 15, the absence of Mansur Ali Mashi and the fourth defendant did not deter justice from being served. Both individuals were pronounced guilty on multiple counts, their convictions sealed. However, sentencing for the absentee defendants was deferred until their apprehension and appearance before the court.
Abdulmumin Mustapha, the second defendant and former branch manager of Sterling Bank, faced a harsher fate. Convicted on counts 1 to 15, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count, without the possibility of a fine. Additionally, the court ordered him to restitute Sterling Bank with the sum of N40,000,000, a stark reminder of the financial devastation wrought by his actions.
The third defendant, the former Head of Operation at the bank, received a mixed verdict. Discharged on counts 1-8, he was convicted on counts 9 to 15, earning a sentence of five years imprisonment for each count, without the chance of a fine.
While Mansur Ali Mashi grapples with the weight of his current conviction, another judgment looms on the horizon. A case of contempt of court awaits its resolution, with the judgment scheduled for today, June 16, 2023. Allegations claim that he sold properties confiscated under an interim forfeiture order, a possible act of defiance against the legal system that could further darken his fate.