A Katsina state high court has convicted Rabiu Matazu, the director of administration of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), for misappropriating public funds.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Matazu on a four-count charge of criminal breach of trust and abuse of office.
During the trial, Ibrahim Garba, an ICPC prosecutor, told the court that the convict received N305,000 from his subordinate, Lawal Dan Sarki, which was rent proceeds from properties belonging to SRRBDA in Katsina state.
Garba told the court that Matazu allegedly converted the money for his personal use instead of remitting it into the agency’s account.
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One of the charges read: “That you, Rabiu Musa Matazu (m), sometimes in October 2014 or thereabout within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, used your position as Director of Administration, Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA), to confer unfair advantage upon yourself by receiving the total sum of ₦305,000 proceeds from rent collected on behalf of your agency, which you converted to your personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Matazu pleaded not guilty to all the counts when they were read to him, and the case went into full trial, which lasted three years.
Delivering judgement, Abbas Bawule, the presiding judge, found Matazu guilty on all counts and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N20,000 on counts one, two, and three, and five years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine on the fourth count.
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The sentences are to run concurrently.
In a statement, the ICPC said the conviction demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that public office is not used for personal gain.
