Bala Ngilari: Former Adamawa governor sentenced to 5 years in prison
Former Adamawa State governor Bala James Ngilari will spend five years behind bars for being corrupt.
That could change if he appeals and wins against the sentence Justice Nathan Musa of the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola handed him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction against the former governor on Monday. Ngilari was charged on September 21, 2016.
He awarded contracts worth N167.8 million without recourse to due process, EFCC prosecutors told the court.
Ngilari faced a 17-count charge ranging from criminal conspiracy to award of contract for the purchase of 25 cars without obtaining the certificate of “No Objection” from the state procurement agency.
Justice Musa found the former governor guilty of four charges, and discharged him on one, which bordered on conspiracy.
He discharged and acquitted former Secretary to the State Government, and the Commissioner of Finance, who were second and third defendants in the case.
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.
It took the judge 75 minutes to read out the ruling.
Ngilari was governor of Adamawa State from October 1, 2014 to May 29, 2015.
The conviction comes amidst Nigeria’s renewed war against corruption.
