Maiduguri Court Jails Woman for N1.3m Fraud Over Undelivered Food Supplies

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, convicted and sentenced Kalthum Mustapha to three years’ imprisonment for a N1.35 million fraud.

Kalthum was first arraigned on May 13, 2024, on a one-count charge of cheating. According to the charge, in June 2022, she dishonestly induced Muhammad Lawan Sani, Abubakar Umar, and Yusuf Jafar to pay her N1,350,000 for the supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), also known as tammua packages. She failed to deliver the goods or refund the money.

Her offence contravened Section 320(a) and is punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code, Cap 102, Laws of Borno State.

Although she pleaded not guilty, prosecution counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and Faruku Muhammad presented witnesses and tendered documentary evidence during the trial.

In her judgment, Justice Kumaliya sentenced Kalthum to three years in prison, with an option of a N50,000 fine. The court also ordered her to pay N635,000 in restitution to her victims or serve an additional two years in prison.