Court Sentences Civil Servant for Diverting Over N60 Million Through GIFMIS

A Nigerian civil servant has been sentenced to prison for diverting over N60 million using the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

On Friday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) obtained a conviction against Lukumanu Waziri, an accountant and civil servant at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, for corruption and misuse of office.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the ICPC announced that Waziri was convicted of misappropriating over ₦60 million in public funds by illegally accessing the Government Integrated Financial Information System (GIFMIS).

In 2021, Waziri, along with two other individuals, was arraigned on a nine-count charge of fraud and corruption in case number FHC/ICPC/122021 before Justice M. Abdulgafar at the Federal High Court in Sokoto.

In the trial, ICPC prosecutor Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha presented evidence demonstrating how Waziri manipulated financial records as a designated GIFMIS user to funnel substantial amounts of government funds into private accounts.

One of the charges alleged that Lukumanu Sani Waziri and Monday Michael Adejo, around April 2020, conspired to transfer funds amounting to a total of ₦20,619,956.8—specifically ₦6,127,465.75; ₦8,552,824.60; and ₦5,939666 from the Government Integrated Financial Information System into Monday Michael Adejo’s First Bank account while being aware that these amounts were derived from illegal activities such as corruption and fraud These actions are considered offenses under Sections 18 and 15(1)(d), with penalties outlined in Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011 (as amended).

Justice Abdulgafar found Waziri guilty on seven out of the nine charges. On Friday, he received his sentence as follows:

Imprisonment for one year or a fine of ₦200,000 for each of Counts 1 and 2.

A one-year prison sentence without the possibility of a fine for Counts 3, 4, and 5.

A sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine of ₦500,000 for each on Counts 8 and 9.

The sentences will be served at the same time.