Gumni Ilihu, village head of Gugu village under Banjiram District, Guyuk Local Government Area of the state, has bagged an 8-year jail sentence after being found guilty of criminal breach of trust, intimidation and mischief.
An Adamawa Magistrate Court gave the ruling following a lawsuit filed by a primary school teacher, Roel Sunaka, 47, who accused the village chief of refusing to pay up the balance from the sale of 13 sheep.
Roel who holds the position of zonal supervisor, Bobini Primary School, Guyuk Local Education Authority, alleged that Gumni used the proceeds of his livestock to secure chieftaincy stool of Gurgu Village, in Banjiram District, under Guyuk Council.
The plaintiff also alleged that the Chief who refused to pay his debt, has been threatening to drive him out of the community.
Magistrate Hyellamada Hyellandendu who presided over the case, found the defendant guilty of criminal breach of trust, section 302, intimidation and mischief under section 382 Adamawa State penal code law 2018.
Hyellandendu said;
“For criminal breach of trust, you Chief Gumni Ilihu, is to be sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine, one-year imprisonment for criminal intimidation with an option of N25,000 fine instead of prison term and two years jail term for mischief with an option of fine of N50, 000.”
The chief would be spending a total of 8 years in jail should he fail to pay the fine.
Speaking to journalists after the judgement, Roel said;
“I approached the court because Gumni sold 13 of my goats in 2013 and used the proceeds to secure appointment as village head, a chieftaincy stool, known as the Sarki Gugu. All entreaties to get him to repay me the money fell on deaf ears. On several occasions, after he became the village head, he threatened to make me leave the village if I continue to disturb him about the repayment for my livestock which I gave to him.”