By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal High Court in Kebbi, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, convicted two auto dealers, Mamuda Aliyu and Hamza Muhammad Mahuta, for breaching Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Gakko, found the pair guilty on a ten-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The defendants operated under the name Dogaro Ga Allah Motors in Birnin Kebbi.
According to the EFCC, between 2019 and 2021, the duo failed to declare their financial activities as required by law. They were also accused of accepting N15 million in cash from the Ministry of Animal Health in January 2020 for the sale of a Toyota Hilux, exceeding the N5 million threshold without using a financial institution.
They pleaded not guilty when charges were read, but after eight months of trial including witness testimony and documents presented by EFCC prosecutor Habila Jonathan, the court ruled against them.
Justice Gakko sentenced the men to a fine of ₦250,000 each on counts one and two. On counts three to ten, they were fined ₦100,000 per count or face one year in prison. The court also ordered them to fully comply with the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act within two months.
The EFCC said the conviction sends a strong message to other Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs) that failure to register and report high-value transactions can result in legal consequences.
