The Executive Chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, Murtala Adamu, was on Friday convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court Gusau for allegedly engaging in private business while in public service.

The convict’s journey to prison started when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) received a petition from one Abdullahi Nakura, who alleged that Adamu refused to pay him and other contractors for jobs executed for the board.

Upon receipt of the petition, EFCC swung into action. The commission’s investigation revealed that apart from nonpayment for contracts, Adamu was also in the habit of collecting kickbacks from contractors. It was further discovered that he also awarded contract to his own company.

Adamu was consequently charged to court. In her judgment, Justice Zainab discharged and acquitted him on ten counts of corruption brought against him by EFCC but found him guilty of the offence of engaging in private business while still in public service. Accordingly, the convict was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

Adamu was a two-term House of Assembly member in Zamfara State between from 2003 to 2011, after which he was appointed Chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, where he is now serving his second term.

One of the charges read that “You, Murtala Adamu, trading under the name and style of MJIE Enterprises (while being the Executive Chairman of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board) on or about 25th April, 2012, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court disguised the origin of the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira Only) paid by Alhaji Yusha’u Sokoto of Alkanci Furniture by way of receiving the said sum into an account you maintain in the name of MJIE Enterprises in Fidelity Bank, which sum was derived directly from participation in corruption with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the money and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.”

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