Two civil servants in the service of Niger State government have been remandedin Correctional Custodial Center for alleged forgery.
The Police authority in Minna Niger State, Tuesday, arraigned Mohammed Kudu Yusuf and Aliyu Abdullahi before the Minna Senior Magistrate Court No 6. They were arraigned on 4-count charge which bothered on criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by taking gratification in aspect of official act and forgery.
According to the police prosecutor Inspector Aliyu Malami the four count charges contrary to sections 97,314,115 and 364 of the penal code law. They are both staff of Ministry of Mining and Niger State Universal Basic Education respectively. The two civil servants all residents of Minna the Niger State capital were alleged to have deceived one Aminu Adamu of Shango area of Minna, and Bala Emmanuel of Sauka Kahuta area also of Minna jointly conspired among themselves, “to breached the trust confided on you and intentionally deceived into paying the sum of N 280,000 under the pretenses of offering them with provisional appointment with the Niger state primary Health care development agency.
“And Niger State Basic Education Board knowing fully well that it is a fraudulent transaction dishonestly obtained the money and converted same to your own personal use and issued them with forged and fake appointment letters.”
At this point, the prosecutor further told the court that upon the receipt of the report, the police detectives swiftly swung into action and effected the arrest of the two defendants. During police Investigation, the sum of N 180,000 was recovered and handed over to the Plaintiffs under further investigation they both confessed to have committed the crimes.
When the 4-count charge were read to them by the Presiding Senior Magistrate, AhmedMusa Aliyu they both pleaded guilty to the charges.
However, the prosecuting police officer Inspector Aliyu Malami, applied for the conviction of both defendants under summary trial in accordance with the provision of section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
It was however gathered that the Court lack the jurisdiction to convict them aa requested by the prosecutor, while they were ordered to be remanded in correctional custody until they will be taken to the court of competent jurisdiction for their Conviction.
“It is only Chief Magistrate that has the competent jurisdiction of convicting and to pass sentence on them. The offence of forgery carries 15 years jail term.
“And the Senior Magistrate lack the jurisdiction to pass that sentence on them which was the reason they were ordered to be remanded, a source close to the Court told CAPITAL POST.
