Two chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP identified as Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, have been been sentenced to two years imprisonment each over alleged involvement in N142 million election bribery scam in 2015.
EFCC accused them of receiving the funds in cash contrary to the threshold provided by law in March 2015. The commission added that the two PDP chieftains thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012( as amended) now No.1, 201.
According to EFCC, the two PDP chieftains were first first arraigned on June 4, 2018.They were re-arraigned on October 16, 2018 on a two count charge for allegedly receiving over N142 million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State.The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for the case to proceed to full trial. 
Justice Hassan Dikko convicted the duo on March 2, while ruling on the two count charge brought against the defendants by EFCC.Before sentencing the defendants, Justice Dikko acknowledged their pleas for leniency but insisted that they must be punished to serve as deterrent to others. “I consider your pleas that you have family who will suffer in your absence thus I will be lenient, however your offences must be punished appropriately to deter others in the society from perpetrating same.”He consequently sentenced the 1st and 2nd defendants to 2years imprisonment at the Bauchi Correction Service or a fine of N3,000,000.00 each in lieu of imprisonment on count one; while the 1st defendant bagged a further 2years imprisonment or a fine of N3,000,000.00 in lieu of imprisonment on count two.
The sentences are to run concurrently from March 2, 2023.Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Saleh Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometimes in March, 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did agree amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; Conspiracy to accept cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012( as amended) now No.1, 2012”.Count two reads, “That you, Sale Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the peoples ‘Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometimes in March, 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court did accept cash payment of N142,460,000.00 ( One Hundred and Forty Two Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) from the Directorate of Finance, Bauchi State PDP Campaign Organization exceeding the required threshold of cash payment, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, 16(1)(d) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition)Act, 2011 (as amended) now No.1, 2012”
Gamawa and Gadiya were members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of PDP in Bauchi during the 2015 general elections.
