A High Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has convicted and jailed former Gov. Bala James Ngilari for failing to adhere to the procurement laws of the state for five years without an option of fine.
In a 75-minute long ruling, Justice Nathan Musa found the former governor guilty of four charges, and discharged him on one, which bordered on conspiracy.
The EFCC had dragged Ngilari and two others, Ibrahim Andrew Welye and Sanda Jonathan Lamurde, former Secretaryto the State Government and former Commissioner for Finance, to court over the said offence. According to the anti-graft agency, the three men had awarded a N167 million contract to El-Yadi Motors Ltd without adhering to the procurement law. The money was said to be for 25 Toyota Corolla cars.
The judge discharged and acquitted former Secretary to the State Government, and the Commissioner of Finance, who were second and third defendants in the case.
In handing down his sentence, the judge said the law stipulated that the convict shall not be given an option of fine.
He sentenced the former governor to five years in prison, and said the convict is serve his term in any prison of his choice.
Ngilari,who took over the as the governorship of Adamawa after the impeachment of of Ex- Gov. Murtala Nyako, was charged to court by the EFCC on September 21, 2016.
His conviction is a breakthrough for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
