Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court has convicted and sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years in prison for obtaining N5.6 million by false pretence.
The defendant was first arraigned on August 18, 2021, on a five-count charge bordering on the dishonest misappropriation of N5,660,000.
One of the charges stated that on January 18, 2021, in Kano, she fraudulently obtained N2 million from Ochayi Anthony Eneche, which was paid into her Access Bank account, under the false claim that she had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking Powder to sell to him. 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.
Uzoamaka pleaded not guilty when the charges were read, leading to a full trial. During proceedings, prosecuting counsel Salihu Sani called four witnesses and tendered several documents admitted as evidence by the court. The defendant testified as the sole witness in her defence.
In her judgment, Justice Sabo found her guilty on all five counts and sentenced her to seven years imprisonment, with an option of a N500,000 fine.
Uzoamaka was prosecuted after she collected N5.6 million from her victim under the pretext of supplying D-Rice Baking Powder from Aba, Abia State, but failed to deliver the goods and instead diverted the funds for personal use.
