- Lawali Dogonkade has been sentenced to four years in prison for fraudulently benefiting from a N31.2 million contract meant for the purchase of medical equipment
- A Zamfara High Court later awarded a fine of N120,000 to Dogonkade, a serving member of the state House of Assembly, after pleading guilty to the fraud
- The judgement followed a request by Dogonkade’s lawyer that his client should be pitied being a first time offender
A Zamfara state High Court that on Thursday, November 22, sentenced Lawali Attahiru Dogonkade to four years in prison after pleading guilty to the fraud on a N31 million contract awarded a fine of N120,000 to him.
Dogonkade, a serving member of the state House of Assembly, admitted that he was fraudulently benefiting from the funds meant for the purchase of medical equipment.
This is contained in a statement from the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission’s spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa.
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Okoduwa said “The convict, representing Kauran-Namoda local government in the Zamfara state House of Assembly, was accused of using his position to confer corrupt advantage upon himself in a N31,290, 000 contract meant for the supply of medical equipment to the state government in violation of Sections 10, 12 and 19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences Act, 2000.”
He said Dogonkade allegedly prompted the managing director of a ph*armacy known as Madaci Pha*rmacy to part with N4.5 million as percentage gratification, in relation to the said contract.
According to him, the accused confirmed commission of the offences and was later sentenced to a four-year term in prison, or a fine of N30, 000 for each of the four counts, making a total of N120,000.
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The statement read: “the judgement followed a request by Dogonkade’s lawyer that his client should be pitied being a first time offender.
“His counsel, Abubakar Junaidu, then pleaded with the court to be lenient with his client considering the fact that he was a first time offender with a large family and dependents who solely rely on him for their livelihood.
“Following his guilty plea, the Counsel to the Commission invited the court to convict him in line with the provisions of 274 (2) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
“The court thereupon convicted the accused person as charged and sentenced him to four years imprisonment or payment of fine of N30, 000 on each of the counts totalling N120, 000.”
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The statement did not indicate the name of the judge who granted the controversial ruling. It also did not state whether the diverted fund would be refunded to the state’s treasury.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a high court in Zamfara granted an interim order restraining all parties involved in the state APC primaries tussle to stay action as controversies continue on whether the party would field candidates for 2019 elections or not.
The judgment was handed down by justice Mukhtar Yusha’u of high court IV, Gusau, Zamfara state.
Barrister Sani Katu, counsel to the plaintiffs who are card carrying members of the party and some senatorial aspirants in the state, said the order implied that the national headquarters of the APC, INEC, the national vice chairman of the party in the northwest and their agents could not take any further action.
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