Two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, have been convicted by the Federal High Court, Bauchi, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for offences involving conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N142,460,000. Justice Hassan Dikko delivered the verdict on 2 March, ruling on the two counts brought against the defendants by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed in a statement that the defendants were first arraigned on 4 June 2018 and re‑arraigned on 16 October 2018 on two charges alleging they received over N142 million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State. One charge read: “That you, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometime in March 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did agree amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; conspiracy to accept cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012 (as amended).”
The anti‑graft agency’s spokesperson noted that the defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial. During the trial, the prosecution presented one witness and submitted documents marked as Exhibits A1, A2 and A3. Both defendants testified in their own defence. After the evidence was closed, final written addresses were filed, exchanged and adopted on 17 January 2023, with the prosecution urging conviction and the defence arguing that the evidence was not credible and seeking discharge and acquittal. Justice Dikko reserved judgment for 2 March 2023.
In a well‑considered judgment lasting more than three hours, Justice Dikko concluded that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt on the first count and convicted the defendants as charged, while acquitting the second defendant on the second count. He stated that the defendants’ endorsement of Exhibits A1, A2 and A3 to receive cash totaling N142,460,000—far exceeding the legal threshold—demonstrated a conspiracy to commit the offence, satisfying the standard of proof. Justice Dikko further observed that the defence ignored the damaging evidence of the exhibits, leading to the finding of guilt for both defendants on the conspiracy charge.
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