Court jails Ngilari, ex-Adamawa gov, gives him option of selecting prison

A Yola high court on Monday sentenced James Ngilari, former governor of Adamawa state, to five years in prison without the option of fine.

Nathan Musa, the presiding judge, said Ngilari would serve the sentence in the prison of his choice in the country “but for now he should start with Yola prison.”

Ngilari was found guilty of the corruption charge filed against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The case was filed in September 2016.

Musa acquitted Andrew Welye, a former secretary to the state government,  and Sunday Lamurde, former commissioner of finance, who stood trial with the former governor on same offences of 17 count charges.

Delivering judgement, Musa said the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ngilari violated the public procurement act of the state by awarding contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles for his commissioners at the cost of N167 million without following due process.

He said Ngilari’s action amounted to executive lawlessness.

Musa said five years was the least he could give Ngilari, whose lawyer, Mr Samuel Toni (SAN) pleaded for leniency “in view of his (Ngilari) invaluable contribution while he was the governor of the state during the trying moment of insurgency.”

He expressed hope that the conviction and sentence of Ngilari would serve as a deterrent to serving governors who engage in doing things without following due process.

“It is my hope that this conviction and sentence will serve as deterrent to serving governors,” he said.

The judge however discharged and acquitted Welye and Lamurde, saying the prosecutor could not prove the case against them.

Before he was taken away from the court, Ngilari told reporters that he would appeal the sentence.

Ngilari was governor from October 1, 2014 to May 29, 2015.