- Photo: Aisha Wakili
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 secured the conviction and sentencing of Aisha Alkali Wakil, (aka Mama Boko Haram) alongside Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri. The defendants were sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine.
The judgment was the climax of a process that commenced on Monday, September 14, 2020 when the defendants were re-arraigned on a two count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N71,400,000 (Seventy-One Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) only.
The convicts ran an NGO called Complete Care and Aid Foundation.
Aisha Alkali Wakil was the CEO, Tahiru Saidu Daura, the programme manager and Prince Lawal Shoyode, the country director.
They were said to have approached Saleh Ahmed Said of Shuad General Enterprises Ltd to deliver to them 3,000 bags of beans worth N71,400,000 under the false pretence of executing a supply contract.
Justice Kumaliya found that they committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(1) (b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
In the course of trial, the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, presented four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted as exhibits.
Delivering judgement, Justice Kumaliya held that the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant and consequently pronounced them guilty as charged.
The judge sentenced them to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The Judge further ordered the convicts to pay the sum of N30,500.000 as compensation to their victim.
In default, they shall serve an additional ten-year prison term.
Aisha Wakili, an Igbo Muslim and ex student of University of Maiduguri was a negotiator between the Federal Government and the outlawed Boko Haram terrorist group.
Born in 1968 into an Igbo family of devout Roman Catholics, she converted to Islam after getting married to Alkali Gana Wakil, a Kanuri and Muslim.