The Katsina State High Court has sentenced the Director of Administration of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, Rabiu Musa Matazu, to five years in prison for abuse of office and criminal breach of trust.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Demola Bakare.

According to the ICPC, Matazu was arraigned on a four-count charge for diverting rent proceeds belonging to the agency.

The prosecution, led by ICPC counsel Ibrahim Garba, told the court that the convict received N305,000 from a subordinate, Lawal Dan Sarki, being rent proceeds from SRRBDA properties in Katsina State.

Instead of remitting the funds into the agency’s account, Matazu allegedly converted the money for personal use.

One of the charges read in part: “That you, Rabiu Musa Matazu, in October 2014, used your position as Director of Administration to confer unfair advantage upon yourself by receiving the total sum of N305,000, proceeds from rent collected on behalf of SRRBDA, which you converted to your personal use.

“Matazu pleaded not guilty, but after a three-year trial, Justice Abbas Bawule found him guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment or an option of N20,000 fine on three counts, and five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on the fourth count. The sentences will run concurrently.”

The ICPC described the judgment as a clear signal that public officials who betray trust for personal gain will face the full weight of the law. (The PUNCH)