A Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa state on Friday sentenced a former commissioner in the state to 10 years in prison for diverting the sum of N51.5 million meant for developmental projects in the state.
The court presided over by Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu found the former commissioner for Finance, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the Boni Haruna administration, John Elias, guilty of charges bordering on diversion of public funds.
He was found guilty of two offences and sentenced to 10 years on each count, but the two sentences are to run concurrently.
The court also ordered Elias to refund the N51.5 million illegally diverted from the state’s coffers and that the convict’s company, ALHAKIM Nigeria Limited, be taken over by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The judge held that Elias was an abuser of the public trust reposed in him.
His sentence came with no option of fine.