Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years imprisonment for obtaining N5,600,000 by false pretence.
The convict was arraigned on August 18, 2021, on a five-count charge bordering on dishonest misappropriation of funds totalling N5,660,000.
One of the charges stated that on January 18, 2021, in Kano, she obtained N2,000,000 from one Ochayi Anthony Eneche, which was paid into her Access Bank Plc account under the false pretence that she had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking Powder to sell to him — a representation she knew to be false. The offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting a full trial.
In the course of proceedings, prosecution counsel Salihu Sani called four witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence. The defendant testified as the sole witness in her defence.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sabo convicted and sentenced her to seven years imprisonment on all five counts, with an option of a N500,000 fine.
The conviction followed investigations which revealed that Uzoamaka obtained the N5.6 million from her victim under the guise of supplying D-Rich Baking Powder from Aba, Abia State, but failed to deliver the goods and instead diverted the funds for personal use.
In a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to diligently prosecuting financial crimes and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.
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