Man Bags Three Months Imprisonment for N10m Fraud
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday secured the conviction of one Ibrahim Abdullahi who was arraigned on a one count charge bordering on cheating before Justice C.N Oji of the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja.
According to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Abdullahi started his journey to jail after he was allegedly entrusted with a cheque of N10m (ten million naira) written in the name of one Innocent Ikhile by one Rabiu Hassan.
The accused, it said fraudulently obtained an international passport using the name on the cheque and went ahead to open a bank account with an old generation bank through which he cleared the cheque and subsequently put the money to personal use.
The count reads:
“That you, Ibrahim Abdullahi, on or about 14th December, 2011, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did cheat First Bank of Nigeria Plc by personation to wit: pretending to be one Innocent Ikhile, by opening an account with First Bank of Nigeria Plc to fraudulently clear a cheque of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) issued to the said Innocent Ikhile by one Rabiu Hassan and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Act.”
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.
Counsel to EFCC, Aisha Aminu Ahmed, after stating the facts of the case urged the court to sentence the accused based on his plea.
Responding, the defence counsel, Osagie Ilhiambe prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy considering the fact that, the accused is a family man who is also remorseful and contrite.
“The victim of the crime has pardoned the accused, and he has made amends by way of refund and restitution. He is a family man who is also remorseful and contrite. I urge your Lordship to tamper justice with mercy”, Ilhiambe pleaded.
He further pleaded with the court to explore the option of fine as “incarceration” has the tendency to make the incarcerated hardened.
Justice Oji, after listening to the submissions of both counsel, convicted the accused and sentenced him to 3 months imprisonment without option of fine.
In the related development, the anti-graft agency has arraigned one Emmanuel Eromosele (alias Bryan Perry) before Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin on a 3-Count charge bordering on fraud to the tune of One Thousand, Five Hundred United State Dollars (1500 USD).
Eromosele allegedly defrauded one James Sindelar in the United Kingdom through Western Union Money Transfer of the said sum while answering the name Bryan Perry and parading himself as a barrister, waiting to be conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
The accused person, allegedly sent fraudulent messages to inbox folder of the victim, “I Need Your Help” and to other unsuspecting foreign nationals seeking help and promising unfulfilled agreement for personal benefits before the law caught up with him.
Count one reads:
“That you Emmanuel Eromosele and others at large on or before the 20th of July 2015 in Benin City, Edo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent did conspired to commit felony to wit: Obtain Money by False Pretence and Thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Another count reads:
“That you Emmanuel Eromosele Akhalu ( (alias Bryan Perry ) and others now at large on or about the 20th of July 2015 in Benin City, Edo State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtained the sum of 1500 U.S Dollars from James Sindelar ‘’m’ in the United Kingdom through Western Union Money Transfer under the false pretence that you are a Barrister soon to be conferred Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Ramiah Ikhanaede asked the court to fix a date for trial to commence and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody .
However, the defense counsel, Charity Mguobarueghian prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail adding that, the alleged offence is bail able.
Justice Ajoku adjourned to January 27, 2016 for the hearing of bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.