Justice Fatu Riman, yesterday in Kano, convicted and sentenced a senior lawyer, Yakubu Mohammed Na-Allah, to four years imprisonment without option of fine for offences of money laundering to the tune of N50 million.
The convict was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on January 14, 2013 on a two-count charge of money laundering.
Upon arraignment, Na-Allah pleaded not guilty and subsequently trial commenced on June 26, 2013 in which the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered 15 exhibits.
On February 1, 2013 the properties of the convict were attached by EFCC following an interim forfeiture order issued by the same court.
The commission had received a petition that the 68-year-old lawyer duped two of his clients N50 million, being part of the money recovered for his client in a case they filed against the Ministry of Solid Minerals, where the convict represented them.
The petition alleged that the convict, after winning the case and recovering N90 million meant for his clients, gave his clients N30 million and converted the balance to his personal use.
Justice Riman sentenced the convict to serve two years imprisonment on each of the two-count charge and also ordered that the attached property of the convict worth N50 million at the time it was purchased, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
