Garba Abdullahi Tahir, also known as Tahir Garba, a former accountant at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, was found guilty and given a 21-year prison sentence on Friday, March 3, 2023 for stealing N26.1 million intended for retirees.
Abdullahi was charged with seven counts of modified money laundering-related offenses at a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Count six reads, “That you Garba Abdullahi Tahir (also known as Tahir Garba on or about the 12th April, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court converted the sum of N7,800,000.00 (Seven Million and Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) into a bank draft or Manager’s Cheque in favour of CHARO Bureau de Change Ltd through your bank account with Ecobank Plc, which sum represented part of the proceeds of crime of criminal breach of trust committed by you in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 14(1) of the same Act”
At his arraignment, he had entered a not-guilty plea to the accusations. The prosecution called numerous witnesses and presented evidence in the form of documents before the case went to trial.
Judge Inyang Ekwo handed down a ruling on Friday and stated that the prosecution had established its case against the defendant, leading to his conviction on each of the seven accusations.
On each of the seven counts, the judge imposed a three-year prison term on the offender. But, the sentences must be read in order.