Some influential figures in Nigeria did not spend Christmas with their families but behind the bars of prison cells! Among them are:
JOSHUA DARIYE, a former Governor of Plateau State.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had in June 2018 sentenced Dariye to 16 years in prison for N1.126 billion fraud.
In 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with money laundering, accusing him of diverting the amount from the Plateau government’s ecological fund through Ebenezer Reitner Ventures, an unregistered company.
IBRAHIM EL-ZAKZAKY, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), on Friday spent his sixth consecutive December 25 behind bars. El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, were arrested by security operatives on December 14, 2015, after a clash between his followers and officers of the Nigerian Army.
The government accused the IMN of not recognising the Nigerian constitution and authority.
JOLLY NYAME, a former Governor of Taraba State
Nyame was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a fraud of N1.64 billion in 41 counts of fraud.
Nyame He was convicted by the High court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,on May 30, 2018, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was also asked to refund the monies he diverted.
In November 2018, The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed his conviction on 29 counts.
The Appellate court however reviewed the sentences imposed by the trial court and sentenced him to five separate 12-year jail terms which were to run concurrently instead of the initial 14-year jail term, and ordered him to pay a fine of N185 million.
On 7th February, 2020, the Supreme Court affirmed the 12-year jail term judgment and set aside the fines imposed on him by the courts on the grounds that they were outrageous and done without any prompting.
ABDULRASHEED MAINA, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).
In July 2015, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Maina alongside former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton B Global Services Limited for alleged procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretense.
Maina is now facing 12 counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He earlier jumped bail,and was extradited to Nigeria after his arrest in Niger Republic in November 2020.
PROPHET BABATUNDE ALFA , Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, and five others to life imprisonment over the disappearance of a one-year-old boy, Gold kolawole in the church last year.
Alfa was sentenced after 11 months legal tussle over the mysterious disappearance of a 13-month-old boy, Gold Kolawole from his church.
The Judge,Justice Olusegun Odusola handed down life imprisonment on count two bordering on aiding and abetting kidnapping contrary to and punishable under the Section 5 of the Ondo State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Abduction law 2010.
PROPHET ISRAEL OLADELE OGUNDIPE ,and Shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis Parish.
Genesis, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for defrauding a United Kingdom-based woman, Mrs Olaide Williams-Oni.
Justice Akinlade, in a judgment that lasted for about four hours, sentenced the defendant, Prophet Oladele, to a year imprisonment on count two and four.
The presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade found the clergyman guilty of two of the seven charges brought against him and dismissed the remaining five over lack of evidence.
Akinlade ordered that he should pay the complainant the sum of N11m, which he illegally obtained from her.
“Both sentences are to run concurrently and the defendant is to restitute the complainant the sum of N2.5mi in respect of count two (stealing) and N8.5million in respect of count 4 (unlawful conversion of property not delivered),” the judge said.
