The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday secured the conviction of two former employees of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano, for misappropriating N3 million medical bills.
This is contained in a statement signed by the EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujearen and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the statement, the convicts, Umar Yusuf and Ibrahim Bebeji, were Chief Clerical Officers in the Account and Internal Audit Departments respectively of the hospital.
It said the duo perpetrated the fraud by manipulating receipts of medical bills paid by patients of the hospital.
They had pleaded not guilty upon their arraignment on July, 2015, according to the anti-graft agency.
During the trial, the prosecution through its counsel, Musa Isah, reportedly called a total of four witnesses and tendered several exhibits.
The defendants, through their counsel, were said to have pleaded for mercy before the trial judge, Justice Aboki, passed the sentence.
She sentenced Yusuf to a total of 20 months imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine on three counts.
The first convict was also ordered to restitute the sum of N639,428 to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano.
On his part, Bebeji was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine one count only. .
According to the statement, all the sentences are to run concurrently.(NAN)
ARU/MTM/MTM
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