Former special assistant gets 12 years in prison for scamming intending Hajj

A Kaduna State High Court has ordered the remand in prison for 12 years, of Hassan Dauda of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Justice M. T. Aliyu gave the ruling based on the charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In his ruling, Justice Aliyu found Dauda guilty on the counts relating to obtaining by false pretence and sentenced him to seven years without an option of fine. 

Dauda was also convicted on the counts relating to abuse of office and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The Commission accused Dauda, a former Special Assistant to the Chairman of Giwa LGA, Kaduna State, of defrauding eight persons of N6,342,000.

ICPC had, in a 16-count charge of obtaining by false pretence, abuse of office and forgery filed before Justice Aliyu, accused Dauda of using his position as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of Giwa Local Government Area to defraud unsuspecting victims in the guise of securing Hajj seats for them in 2013. 

The offence is punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

However, Dauda was discharged and acquitted on the counts relating to forgery. 

Reading the sentence, Justice Aliyu stated that ICPC was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The sentence will run concurrently.

ICPC’s spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, in a statement said that it will be recalled that the convict was arrested by operatives of ICPC in October 2013 following a petition of his alleged corrupt act, and was arraigned in May 2015 after the conclusion of investigations.