Court Jails Former Adamawa Governor, Ngilari Over N167.8 Million Fraud

A High Court sitting in Yola has convicted former governor of Adamawa State, Barr. James Bala Ngilari to five years in jail for his role in a N167.8 million fraud during his short-lived reign as governor.

The ruling which was delivered by Justice Nathan Musa found him guilty of failing to adhere to the procurement laws of the state and conspiring to award contracts amounting to N 167,812,500 for the purchase of operational vehicles without following due process.

In the 75-minute-long ruling, Justice Nathan, relying on section 58(5) of the Public Procurement Act which says that “the hands of the law are tied to convict any person found guilty of breach of procurement acts to be sentenced to not less than five years imprisonment,” found the former governor guilty of four charges and discharged him of one.

Although he was not given an option of fine, Ngilari is however allowed to serve the sentence in any prison of his choice but will be incarcerated at the Yola Prisons in the meantime.

Responding after the verdict, Ngilari told journalists he had  accepted the verdict in good faith but would exercise his right to appeal the case which was filed by the ruling APC government led by Mohammed Jibrilla.