The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has successfully prosecuted Lukumanu Sani Waziri, an accountant at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, for corruption and abuse of office.
According to a statement sent to Africa Health Report (AHR) by the spokesperson of the Commission, Demola Bakare on Sunday, Waziri who was convicted of diverting over ₦60 million through unauthorized use of the Government Integrated Financial Information System (GIFMIS) was arraigned alongside two others in 2021 before the Federal High Court, Sokoto, on a nine-count charge of fraud.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing how Waziri altered financial records to transfer public funds into private accounts, including his own and that of an accomplice, Monday Michael Adejo. He was also accused of fraudulently redirecting state tax payments meant for Kogi, Edo, Bauchi, and Zamfara to Adejo’s account.
One charge detailed how Waziri and Adejo conspired in April 2020 to transfer over ₦20 million into Adejo’s First Bank account, funds derived from corruption and fraud. These actions were found to violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
On Friday, January 19, 2025, Justice M. Abdulgafar found Waziri guilty on seven of the nine charges. He was sentenced to varying prison terms: one year imprisonment with a ₦200,000 fine for Counts 1 and 2, one year without fine for Counts 3, 4, and 5, and three years or a ₦500,000 fine for Counts 8 and 9 which are to run concurrently.
