A former Director with the Nigerian Airforce, Mohammed Alkali Mamu has been sentenced to two years in jail for receiving bribes.
Mr. Mamu was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of receiving bribes worth $300,000 cash and N5.9 million with which he purchased a Range Rover Evoque in June 2016.
Asides from these, the EFCC alleged before the court that he also received a Ford Expedition SUV valued at N15 million, and a Jaguar XF Saloon valued at N12 million from the Societe D’ Equipment Internationaux (SEF) Nigeria Limited during his role as a covert operative on behalf of Nigeria in the war against Terrorism.
Mohammed Mamu was acquited of all charges by the trial Judge, Salisu Garba who said the EFCC could not establish a case against the defendant in June, 2018.
The anti-graft agency however took the matter before the court of appeal on a four count charge.
A three man panel of the appeal court thereafter convicted Mohammed Mamu on one out of the four charges brought against the former AirForce chief.
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In a July 15 judgement, the court found Mamu guilty of receiving $300,000 through a fertilizer company, owned by his daughters from Himma Abubakar the owner of SEI Nigeria Limited.
Mohammed Mamu was supposed to oversee the company as it supplied military equipment to the Nigerian Airforce.
He was thereafter sentenced to Prison with an option of N500,000 fine.
According to the lead judge on the appeal panel, Yargata Byenchit Nimpa;
“The trial court failed in its duty by applying principles of law in a flawed manner, leading to the striking out of the confessional statement.”
“There was no legal basis for that action. Considering the evidence before the court, there was corroboration for the confessional statement particularly, the SEI Ltd’s payment for the cars, to the fertilizer company in which his (Mamu’s) daughters are directors and bank documents,” Nimpar held.
“I find the confessional statement good to be evaluated for weight. I, therefore, disagree with the trial judge and find that the confessional statement was properly in evidence and must be evaluated along other pieces of evidence before the court.
“The sum of $300,000 was not legitimate income from his (Mamu’s) employers. Mr. Himma Abubakar was not respondent’s employer and had no business paying the respondent any sum as appreciation. This is coming at the backdrop of the admission by the respondent that he got more than he was allegedly entitled to.
“On count two, I find for the appellant that it proved the allegation beyond reasonable doubt. I find the respondent guilty on count two. On counts one, three and four, there was no direct admission and even though it was established that the respondents got cars paid for by SEI Nig Ltd (Himma Abubakar) and delivered by Coscharis.
“Flowing from above therefore, the respondent is discharged and acquitted on counts one, three and four of the charge, but guilty of count two.
“Considering the circumstances and the facts in this appeal, particularly the fact that the respondent quickly refunded the sum of $300.000, there is no history of previous conviction before the court. Therefore, in exercise of the court’s discretion, the respondent is hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and in the alternative, an option of N500, 000 fine.”