NNPC Salesman Bags 3-Year Jail Term Over N6bn Fraud

The Federal High Court, Kaduna, Thursday, convicted and sentenced a former Sales Assistant with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, Abdukadir Mohammed Salihu, to three years imprisonment over N6 billion fraud.

Justice Z. B. Abubakar, the presiding judge, convicted Salihu, after found him guilty of fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The convict was arraigned on a three count-charge of fraud before the court.

Salihu was arrested on October 29, 2019, for unlawful loading of manifest at the Kaduna Depot of the NNPC and arraigned before the court on Wednesday, on charges of fraud, which he pleaded guilty to.

Following his plea of guilty, the EFCC prosecution lawyer, Ms. Deborah Ademu-Eteh asked the court to convict and sentencing accordingly.

Upon the prosecutor’s request, Justice Abubakar sentenced the suspect to a term of three years imprisonment with an option of fine to the tune of N1 million.

The judge also ordered the convict to forfeit the following: one unit of three-bedroom apartment and one unit of two-bedroom Boys’ Quarter situated at 2, Kpak Close, off College Road, Kurmin Mashin, Kaduna; One-storey building containing four bedrooms and one bedroom self-contain with its appurtenances situated at 4, Kpak Close, off College Road, Kurmin Mashin, Kaduna; One unit of three-bedroom apartment with two parlours and one self-contain bedroom situated at 6, Kpak close, off College Road, Kurmin Mashin, Kaduna; a water factory known as Ummus Water and Drinks Limited, situated at Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government in Kaduna; One Fuel Station with four pumps with the name: Aminu and Salihu Limited, situated at Sabon Gayan, Panturawa, along Saminaka, Jos Road, Kaduna.
Other properties forfeited to the Federal Government are: Five vehicles. Odyssey Space Bus, Toyota Tacoma Pick-up, Toyota RAV 4 Jeep, Lexus 350 Jeep and Mitsubishi Petroleum Tanker.

The Judge also ordered the defendant to forfeit his gratuity and 30 percent of his monthly pension to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A statement issued by the EFCC’s Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade, stated that trouble began for the convict when several petitions against him were submitted to the Kaduna Zonal office of the EFCC.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that he conspired with other marketers to lift petroleum products without payment at NNPC Depot, Kaduna State worth over N6 billion.

Investigation further revealed that he was part of the cartel behind multiple loading of petroleum products and he committed the fraud between 2009 to 2017 at Kaduna Deport without corresponding payments.