Maiduguri, Nigeria—Aisha Wakil, widely known as “Mama Boko Haram,” and two associates were sentenced to a combined 15 years imprisonment by a Borno State High Court in Maiduguri for a N6 million car fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that Wakil, along with Tahiru Saidu Daura, the Programme Manager of her Complete Care and Aid Foundation, and Lawal Shoyode, the organization’s Country Director, was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining a Toyota Camry 2012 model under false pretenses.

Conviction and Sentencing

The trio was initially arraigned in September 2020 on charges of conspiracy, cheating, and providing false information, to which they pleaded not guilty. After an extensive trial, Justice Aisha Kumaliya ruled in favor of the prosecution, sentencing each defendant to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Additionally, the court mandated the defendants to pay N3.5 million in restitution to the petitioner. Failure to comply with the restitution order will result in an additional five years of imprisonment for each defendant.

Evidence and Prosecution

The EFCC’s prosecution team, represented by Mukhtar Ahmed and Shamsudeeb Saka, presented three witnesses and several documents as evidence. The court found that the defendants neither paid for the vehicle nor returned it to the petitioner, leading to their conviction.

The EFCC’s statement reaffirmed the commitment of the anti-graft agency to pursuing justice in cases of fraud and financial crimes.