A former lawmaker in Jigawa State, Hon. Shu’ibu Kashim Dila, has been convicted and sentenced for offences bordering on conspiracy, breach of trust, and cheating after a six-month trial at the Chief Magistrate Court II in Dutse.

Dila, who hails from Malam Madori Local Government Area, was found guilty by Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ibrahim Aliyu after the Jigawa State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (JSPCACC) brought charges against him.

According to the Commission’s spokesperson, Yusuf Suleiman, the case was triggered by a petition filed on February 17, 2025, by Aisha Yusuf of Hadejia Local Government.

She accused Dila, working in concert with his wife, of deceitfully obtaining ₦5 million from her with a written agreement that the money would be repaid within a month.

When the deadline passed, the defendant allegedly sent his wife away to an unknown location to avoid honouring the agreement.

Following an investigation, the Commission said Dila confessed to the act, and evidence showed clear intent to defraud.

He was arraigned on a three-count charge.

During the trial, the prosecution team, led by Barrister Zubairu Haladu, called three witnesses and presented two exhibits. The defence, on the other hand, produced two witnesses but offered no exhibits.

In his judgment, Magistrate Aliyu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

He then sentenced Dila to multiple fines and custodial terms, including a ₦50,000 fine or three months in prison for breach of trust, another ₦50,000 or three months in prison for cheating, and a ₦30,000 fine or two months in prison for conspiracy.

More significantly, the court ordered him to refund the ₦5 million to the complainant or serve five years in prison if he failed to do so. He was also directed to pay ₦250,000 to cover prosecution expenses or spend four months behind bars in default.

The magistrate ruled that all the sentences would run consecutively, meaning the former lawmaker faces a lengthy stay in prison if he fails to meet the financial obligations.

Reacting to the verdict, the anti-corruption commission described the conviction as a landmark victory in its fight against fraud and abuse of public trust.

It said the outcome sends a strong message that no one, regardless of political background, is above the law.

The Commission also assured the public that it would continue to pursue similar cases to protect the people of Jigawa State.