Justice Mohammad Maina of the Borno State High Court has sentenced Ijai Jampi to one year in prison following his conviction for criminal misappropriation. The ruling concludes a legal battle initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the unauthorized diversion of funds intended for business transactions.
The case originated from a formal petition filed by Eneh Chinedu, who alleged that Jampi had misappropriated N6,660,000. The sum was originally provided to the convict as payment for the procurement and supply of borehole plumbing materials. However, investigations revealed that instead of fulfilling his contractual obligations, Jampi diverted the capital to finance a separate contract he had secured with a non-governmental organization, Gold Prime Organisation.
Following an initial arraignment on August 11, 2025, where he faced a one-count charge, Jampi entered a plea of not guilty. This prompted the prosecution, led by counsel A.D. Abdulmalik, to initiate a full trial. Throughout the proceedings, the anti-graft agency presented six witnesses and submitted a series of evidentiary documents to substantiate the allegations against the defendant, citing violations of Sections 296 and 297 of the Borno State Penal Code Law of 2023.
Upon reviewing the evidence, the court found Jampi guilty as charged. In addition to the one-year jail term, Justice Maina imposed a fine of N200,000. Furthermore, the court issued a restitution order, mandating that the convict repay the full sum of N6,660,000 to the petitioner. The judge stipulated that failure to settle this financial obligation would result in an additional one-year custodial sentence.
Source: NaijaProbe