Serving Zamfara House of Assembly member convicted of fraud
A serving member of the Zamfara state House of Assembly has been convicted of fraud.
Honorable Lawali Attahiru, representing kauran Namoda Constituency, was convicted for criminal breach of trust by the Federal High Court, Gusau, on Friday.
Attahiru, according to the EFCC, had contracted an agent to supply medical equipment to Zamfara State Ministry of Health. He refused to issue payment to the agent after the equipment were supplied.
It turned out there was no such agreement with the health ministry for the supply, despite that Attahiru presented the agent with documents attesting to the contract.
The EFCC said its investigation showed that the lawmaker forged the documents in order “to deceive and defraud the complainant.”
Attahiru had pleaded not guilty to the crime when he was arraigned on October 17, but approached the commission with a plea bargain proposal on October 30, two days before his next court appearance.
As part of the plea bargain, Attahiru agreed to pay the agent the full money for the equipment supplied.
The lawmaker then pleaded guilty to the seven-count charge when he appeared before Justice Fadima Aminu on Friday.
Attahiru is part of the lawmakers tasked to check irregularities and direct the affairs of Zamfara.
