JUMMAI HANNATU SANKEY, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division (Court below) delivered on the 13 July, 2018 wherein the sentence and conviction of the Appellant by the trial High Court of the FCT (trial Court) was affirmed.
The facts leading up to this appeal are briefly summarised as follows: The Appellant was arraigned along with one Yahaya Ayodeji (2nd accused) before the trial Court on a 10-count Amended Charge bordering on offences of criminal conspiracy and deriving benefit from contracts emanating from their place of employment, contrary to Sections 12 and 26 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act, 2000. The charge was preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
At the conclusion of trial, the trial Court in its judgment of 13-11-2017 found the Appellant and the co-accused guilty of Counts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9 and sentenced them to 7 years imprisonment each…