The Federal High court sitting in Yola Adamawa State Northeast Nigeria has on Thursday, sentenced the former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association,Yola branch Mr Esthon Runde Binani and a Magistrate Shehu Mustspha to 5 years in Prison each, Courtroom Mail can reveal.
The court further ordered that Mr Binani refund the sum of five million Naira being the proceeds of Judgement obtained in favour of his clients, while Shehu should return the sum of sixty one million Naira being part of the said proceeds placed under his care when he was the Litigation Secretary in High court before his elevation to the lower bench.
Courtroom Mail reported that the suit was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) based on a complaint by the retired staff of Sterling construction company who alleged that the two embezzled the proceeds of the judgement due to them.
In the course of the trial, Mr Esthon has insisted that the five million naira was his professional fees and the remaining amount was paid to the High court under the care of Mr Shehu.
Mr Shehu denied spending the money but failed to mention what happened with the money.