Ghen Ghen: Court jails former Adamawa Governor, James Bala Ngilari, for corruption

If there’s a meter you’ve got to measure the anti-corruption index of the Buhari’s government, it seems it’s time to let it start reading/counting…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of former Adamawa state governor, Barrister James Bala Ngilari over the award of contracts worth N167.8 million without recourse to due process.

The conviction was given on Monday by Justice Nathan Musa of the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola.

The ex-governor faced a 17-count charge ranging from criminal conspiracy to award of contract for the purchase of 25 cars without obtaining the certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the state procurement agency. Mr. Ngilari was charged on September 21, 2016.

In a 75-minute long ruling, Justice Nathan Musa found the former governor guilty of four charges, and discharged him on one, which bordered on conspiracy.
The judge discharged and acquitted former Secretary to the State Government, and the Commissioner of Finance, who were second and third defendants in the case.
In handing down his sentence, the judge said the law stipulated that the convict shall not be given an option of fine.
He sentenced the former governor to five years in prison, and said the convict is serve his term in any prison of his choice.