The Federal High Court of Abuja sentenced lawyer Umar Hussaini to seven years in prison with the possibility of a fine.
The deceased Nigerian Customs Service Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko, passed away in February 2021 while under investigation. He had a private attorney named Hussaini.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission accused Dikko, Hussaini, and former Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Garba Makarfi of participating in corrupt practices (ICPC).
Hussaini was charged with two counts, and on Wednesday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu found him guilty of both counts. The charge is identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/74/2020.
The convict begged the court to balance justice with mercy because he has four wives, each of whom has children, as well as aging parents.
His attorney,
Naziru Umar prayed that the Capital Law owner’s sentence include the possibility of a fine.
Olubunmi Ikupolati, an attorney for the ICPC, urged the court to find Hussaini guilty and order him to repay the money he had stolen.
Umar disagreed, claiming that since his client is already involved in a civil case before the FCT High Court, doing so would amount to double jeopardy.
Justice Ojukwu, who handed down the ruling, imposed a seven-year prison sentence on each count with the possibility of a N50 million fine on each of the two counts.
In addition, Ojukwu mandated that Hussaini pay N100 million in restitution to Yemi Obadeyi and Cambial Limited, the two victims of the crime.
The prisoner won’t be released until the fine’s conditions have been met.
