Court jails PDP bigwigs over N142m election bribe scam

The Federal High Court in Bauchi, Bauchi State has convicted two state People's Democratic Party (PDP) bigwigs of conspiracy and money laundering involving N142 million.

Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving a total of N142,460,000 in cash for influencing the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State, according to a statement from the anti-corruption agency on Saturday.

The two men, who were members of the PDP's Finance and Fund Disbursement Committee for the 2015 general election, accepted the cash payment above the legal threshold, the EFCC added.

The judge, Hassan Dikko, handed down his judgment on March 2, finding them guilty and sentencing them to a prison term with the option of a fine, says the statement from the EFCC signed by the bearer. word of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren.

The court therefore sentenced the two defendants to two years imprisonment in Bauchi Correctional Service or a fine of N3 million each instead of imprisonment for Count 1.

He went further by sentencing the second defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of 3 million naira in lieu of imprisonment for Count 2.

Sentences are to run concurrently from March 2.

The defendants were first arraigned on June 4, 2018 and re-charged on October 16, 2018 on two counts of money laundering.

READ THE FULL EFCC STATEMENT

EFCC press release

Two PDP leaders jailed for 3 years over N142m election bribe scam

Two leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bauchi State, Saleh Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, were found guilty by a Federal High Court in Bauchi and sentenced to 3 years in prison for offenses bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N142,460,000.00 (one hundred and forty two million, four hundred and sixty thousand naira).

Judge Hassan Dikko sentenced the duo on March 2, while ruling on the two charges brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The defendants were first arraigned on June 4, 2018 and re-charged on October 16, 2018 on two counts of allegedly receiving over N142 million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in the Bauchi State.

One of the counts reads: "That you, Saleh Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Disbursement Committee of the 2015 General Election Funds of the People's Democratic Party ( PDP), and as such sometime in March 2015 in the State of Bauchi within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, you conspired to commit an offence, namely; Conspiracy to accept payment in cash exceeding the threshold prescribed by law, has thereby committed an offense contrary to section 18(a) and punishable under section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Act 2012 ( as amended) now No.1, 2012".

Count two readings: "That you, Sale Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Fund Disbursement Committee of the 2015 People's Democratic Party (PDP) General Elections, and as such sometimes in March , 2015 in Bauchi State under the jurisdiction of this Honorary Tribunal accepted a cash payment of N142,460,000.00 (One Hundred Forty Two Million Four Hundred Sixty Thousand Naira) from the Finance Department, Campaign Organization Bauchi State PDP exceeding the required cash payment threshold, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 1, 16(1)(d) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) now No 1, 2012"