Laz Anyanwu, a former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, has bagged a three-year jail term for fraud and theft.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had dragged Anyanwu, who served during the administration of ex-governor, Rochas Okorocha, and accused him of diverting millions of naira, belonging to the state to his personal account.
The former commissioner was found guilty as charged and sentenced accordingly.
Delivering the judgement, the judge, K. A Lewanya, ruled that Anyanwu was guilty of fraud, stealing and looting of public funds, adding that the prison term would run concurrently.
The judge convicted the former commissioner of diverting N180million of state funds into a private company account where he was a key shareholder and sole signatory during his tenure as the superintended and doubled as commissioner for transport and the chairman of the interim committee of the Imo Transport Company, contrary to section 12 and 19 of the ICPC Act 2020.
Lewanya ruled that the Anyanwu contravened the Public Procurement Act, abused his office and used his office to gain an unwarranted advantage in his dealings while he occupied the two offices.