Gumni Ilihu, the village head of Gugu village in Adamawa’s Banjiram District, Guyuk Local Government Area, was sentenced to eight years in prison by an Adamawa Magistrate Court after being found guilty of criminal breach of trust, intimidation, and mischief.
The plaintiff in the case, a primary school teacher named Roel Sunaka, 47, had taken the village chief to court over the village chief’s refusal to repay a debt owed him following the sale of 13 sheep to Gumni.
Roel who holds the position of zonal supervisor, Bobini Primary School, Guyuk Local Education Authority, said after Gumni used the proceeds of his livestock to secure chieftaincy stool of Gurgu Village, in Banjiram District, under Guyuk Council, the village chief had refused to pay his debt and instead was threatening to drive him out of the community.
While ruling on the case instituted by Roel, Magistrate Hyellamada Hyellandendu found the defendant guilty of criminal breach of trust, section 302, intimidation and mischief under section 382 Adamawa State penal code law 2018.
Hyellandendu in his sentencing, 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 judge said the jail terms were to run concurrently, bringing the total number of years the defendant is to spend in jail to eight years upon failure to meet up the fine obligation to secure his freedom.
Speaking to journalist, over the case, Roel explained, “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.”