LAGOS—FORMER Chairman of thei, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Alhaji Bello Lafiaj and his Personal Assistant, Usman Amali, were sentenced to a total of 16 years imprisonment, yesterday, after they were found guilty of conspiracy and abuse of office by a Lagos High Court.

They were arraigned in court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, on a seven-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud and abuse of office.

Lafiaji and Amali were initially arraigned on a five-count charge by the commission, but according to the amended statement of offence filed on January 29, 2009, the charges were later increased by the commission to seven.

The amended statement alleged that the accused persons, in November 2005 or thereabouts in Lagos, conspired to unlawfully receive from one Ikenna Onochie, a suspect with the NDLEA, 164,300 euros being exhibit seized from the suspect in order to release him and his vehicles from custody.

The accused were said to have conspired to use their offices to confer corrupt advantage upon themselves contrary to Section 26 and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Corrupt advantage

Specifically, Bello Lafiaji, was alleged to have, in November 2005, used his office as chairman of NDLEA to confer corrupt advantage upon himself by obtaining from one Gadzama Bashiru, N50, 000. Besides, the ex-chairman of NDLEA was also alleged to have unlawfully demanded and obtained N450,000 from Gadzama Bashiru, through one Garba Bawa Yauri.

They pleaded not guilty to all the seven charges.

During the trial, the prosecution called 12 witnesses, while the defence called five. Urging the court to return a guilty verdict on the accused persons, the prosecution described the charge as a classical case of corruption and manipulation of the system by the accused persons.

But the defence, while urging the court to discharge and acquit the two accused persons for lack of evidence, contended that the prosecution built its case on mere suspicion. It further argued that the charges were destined to fail from inception, adding that there were variations between the charges and testimonies of witnesses that came to testify in court.

The trial judge, Justice Olusola Williams, after reviewing argument of counsel, said in her judgment that there was no doubt that Lafiaji meant well for the Agency, as he raised the standard in the Agency, but that he became victim because of the amount involved.

The court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the way Lafiaji ordered the money to be released was irregular.

The judge said the accused persons used their offices to confer personal advantage on themselves and, therefore, found them guilty as charged.

On the first count, the court handed a four years imprisonment; another four years on the second count; two years on the third count; two on the fourth count, two on the sixth count and two on the seventh count.

For Amali, the court sentenced him to two years on the first count, two on the second count; two on the third and one year on fifth count. The prison terms will run concurrently.

less than 200,000 euros they got 16 years

how many years did they give Tafa and Bode George?

N.A.I.J.A !!!!