Court jails Zamfara state official 29 years for diverting fertilizers

A staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Zamfara state, Nasiru Gusau aka Nasiru Succer was today sentenced to 29 years in jail by a Katsina High court for diverting 4, 200 bags of Fertilizers meant for local farmers. The fertilizers were being transported to the state from Adamawa when it was diverted.

According to court documents filed by the EFCC, Gusau was charged on 9 counts of Forgery and breach of trust.


One of the charges read

"That you Nasiru Yahaya ‘M’ on or about the 14th day of March, 2011 at Funtua within the Judicial Division of the High court of Justice Katsina state being entrusted with certain property, to wit; 1, 800 bags of fertilizer worth the sum of Nine Million Naira only by Ibrahim Dogo, did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 311 of the Penal Code”.

Gusau pleaded not guilty but the presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Yusuf, in his ruling said the EFCC had proved without doubt that Gusau indeed committed the crime and therefore sentenced him to 4 years each on counts 1 and 2 and a fine of N1m; and 3 years each on counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The accused is also still standing trial for diverting fertilizers worth N68, 000 000.