TheNewsGuru

Tag: fraud

  • Alleged N32.9bn money laundering: Court remands Mompha

    Alleged N32.9bn money laundering: Court remands Mompha

    An Ikeja Special Offence Court on Tuesday ordered that a social media celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha, be remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of conspiracy to launder N5.9billion.

    The defendant was arraigned alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd on a fresh eight-count charge of fraud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant is also currently facing trial at the Federal High Court Lagos on a 22-count fraud charges proffered against him by the EFCC.

    He pleaded not guilty to charge of conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct.

    Other charges are use of property derived from unlawful act, possession of document containing false pretence and failure to disclose assets and properties.

    Following the arraignment, the lead EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo requested for a trial date.

    The defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, however informed the court that he had filed a bail application which had been served on the prosecution.

    Responding,Oyedepo asked for time to respond to the bail application of the defence.

    According to the EFCC, Mompha committed the alleged offence between 2016 to 2019 in Lagos.

    The defendant is alleged to have conspired alongside Ahmadu Mohammed now at large to conduct N5.9billion worth of financial transactions with the intent of committing the offence of obtaining by false pretence.

    The prosecution alleges that the defendant also conducted other illegal transactions.

    “On Jan. 28, 2019, the defendant and his company, with the intent of promoting one Olayinka Jimoh alias ‘Nappy Boy’ conducted unlawful financial transactions in the sum of N32million.

    “The said sum involves the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity which is obtaining by false pretence.

    “On Feb. 11, 2019 he retained the aggregate sum of N20million on behalf of Jimoh which he was aware that the said sum were proceeds of Jimoh’s criminal conduct (obtaining by false pretence),” he said.

    The EFCC alleges that Mompha on Feb.11, 2019 transferred the sum of N15.9million to Naptown Records and on Feb. 13, 2019 transferred the sum of N20million to Wisegate Sleek System.

    The funds are alleged to be proceeds of crime (obtaining under false pretences).

    On Feb. 3, 2020 the defendant allegedly had in his possession a document containing false pretence titled ‘Select Milk Producer J.P Morgan’ which was used to defraud Continental Diary Facilities LLC.

    The EFCC also alleged that on Oct. 20, 2019 Mompha failed to furnish information in relation to his interest in expensive watches such as a Rolex Wristwatch, a Hublot Wristwatch,two Piguet Wristwatches, an Iphone 8 worth N70million.

    “This is required in page 10 of the Declaration of Assets Forms and is therefore an offence,” the prosecutor said.

    The alleged offences violate Sections 5(1) 6, 7 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Sections 7, 18 and 27(3) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004.

    Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until Jan. 18 for hearing of the bail application.

  • Witness’ absence stalls Naira Marley’s fraud trial

    Witness’ absence stalls Naira Marley’s fraud trial

    The absence of a prosecution witness, Mr Augustine Anosike on Tuesday, stalled the ongoing trial of a popular Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

    Anosike, a forensic analyst, is testifying as a second prosecution witness in the case.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendant on charges bordering on cyber crime.

    Fashola was arrested on May 14, 2019.

    The musician, who sang the popular song: “Am I a yahoo boy”, was consequently, arraigned on May 20, 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he pleaded not guilty.

    The court had accordingly, granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

    Trial had since commenced in the case and the second prosecution witness who concluded his examination in chief on Oct. 27, was scheduled for cross examination on Tuesday.

    When the case was called, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo announced appearance for the prosecution, while Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) appeared for the defendant.

    Oyedepo informed the court that his witness was unavoidably absent on what he termed “compassionate grounds”

    He added that the witness is currently in his village, and urged the court to graciously grant an adjournment for Dec.14.

    In response, defence counsel, told the court that, “ it was rather unfortunate that the matter could not proceed today, the prosecution ought to have given sufficient notice of the witness’ absence.”

    Ojo said that in the circumstances, there is nothing he could do, but urged the prosecution to ensure that adequate information reaches him earlier in similar circumstances.

    Meanwhile, the prosecutor quickly clarified that, “I only got information as to the witness’ absence, at about 9.30a.m. while still in the parking lot of the court this morning.”

    He noted that it is not in the character of prosecution to waste the time of the court, adding that the witness will be present on the next date of adjournment.

    Following agreement of parties the court adjourned the case until Feb. 16 and Feb. 17 for continuation of trial.

    The court vacated the previous date of Dec. 14 on the grounds that the date is no longer available for the court, following activities for the new legal year.

    According to the EFCC, the defendant committed the offences on different dates between Nov. 26, 2018 and Dec.11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.

    The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.

    It alleged that the defendant used a bank credit card issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.

    The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud which amounted to theft.

    The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 1, 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.

  • US court sentences Nigerian to 7 years Imprisonment over scam targeted at women

    US court sentences Nigerian to 7 years Imprisonment over scam targeted at women

    …to forfeit over $440k

    A federal judge in Pennsylvania has sentenced a Nigerian man, Jabin Godspower Okpako, to more than seven years in prison for conspiring to launder approximately $1.89 million in mail and wire fraud proceeds in a scheme that targeted women.

    The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Okpako, 36, was sentenced on November 23, 2021, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann.

    According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Jabin Okpako and his wife, codefendant Christine Bradley Okpako, age 54, of Sayre, Pennsylvania, received approximately $1,898,046 million in proceeds from a mail and wire fraud scheme, laundered the funds through numerous bank and wire transactions in multiple states, and transferred the funds out of the United States to three separate bank accounts in Nigeria.

    The mail and wire fraud scheme sought to defraud multiple female victims throughout the United States, ranging in age from 55 to 85.

    The victims had visited online game, relationship and dating web sites, including Instagram, Facebook, Words with Friends, and What’s App.

    The conspirators, located in the United States and West Africa, befriended the victims through interaction and exchanges of photos on the web sites via text and instant messaging.

    After cultivating online relationships with the victims, the conspirators fraudulently induced the victims to send and transmit funds for various fictitious reasons and purposes, including to assist a worker in Alaska who fell from a tower, to purchase an apartment in Washington, D.C., to assist the United Nations, to repair machinery and equipment on an oil drilling rig, to pay for medicine, to recover a $6 million inheritance, and to make an investment in gold.

    After fraudulently inducing the victims to provide funds for these fictitious reasons, the unindicted conspirators instructed the victims to transmit checks and cash to Okpako and Bradley at their residence in Sayre, Pennsylvania.

    In sentencing Okpako, Chief Judge Brann stated that Okpako and his wife continued to transfer fraud proceeds to Nigeria even after numerous banks closed their accounts based on the suspicious and irregular nature of the transactions.

    Chief Judge Brann also noted that Okpako and his wife continued to conduct money laundering transfers despite receiving a warning letter from the FBI concerning their activities.

    Chief Judge Brann ordered Okpako to make restitution in the amount of $440,950 to victims and forfeit proceeds of the criminal activity.

  • Fani-Kayode fumes over arrest by EFCC

    Fani-Kayode fumes over arrest by EFCC

    Former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode is fuming badly over reports of his recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Fani-Kayode, who joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in September, was reportedly arrested and quizzed by the anti graft agency on Tuesday.

    The ex-minister is said to be under investigation for alleged forgery and manipulation of documents with which he used to evade trial for fraud.

    The details of the allegations against him were sketchy but the EFCC spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed Fani-Kayode’s arrest by its operatives.

    “I think something like that happened,” he said and declined to comment further.

    However, Fani-Kayode, who was later granted bail, continued to deny he was arrested, even when he owned up that he was actually granted bail at about 8:30 pm same Tuesday.

    “I pity those that said I was arrested. They are filled with hate & live on fake news. Since when did an invitation & a friendly chat become an arrest? And even if I had been arrested, SO WHAT? I am not above the law & neither does joining APC give me immunity. My God is MIGHTY,” Fani-Kayode tweeted.

    Earlier, he had also tweeted: “Just arrived at the George Hotel for dinner. I was never arrested by the EFCC. I was invited & I flew down to Lagos to see them. I arrived in their office at 2.00pm & left at 8.30pm. I was granted bail on self recognition. They were very polite & professional. Thanks be to God”.

    TNG reports Fani-Kayode has been having a running battle with the EFCC for some time and he was once remanded for 67 days in 2016.

  • Ex-Edo gov, Lucky Igbinedion in EFCC custody over alleged N1.6bn fraud

    Ex-Edo gov, Lucky Igbinedion in EFCC custody over alleged N1.6bn fraud

    The former governor of Edo State, Mr Lucky Igbinedion, is currently being grilled by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over what a source described as alleged criminal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.6bn.

    The former governor, who arrived at the headquarters of the EFCC, at Jabi, Abuja, around 2pm, on Thursday was still being quizzed as of the time of filing this report.

    Shortly after his exit as governor in 2007, Igbinedion was prosecuted by the EFCC and convicted of corruption.

    But the new investigation, according to the source who was not authorised to speak on the matter, was based on fresh evidence against him.

    The source said that the former governor diverted a loan obtained by the Edo State Government to finance an investment during his tenure, to settle the financially indebtedness of a company in which he had interest.

    Mr Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson for the Commission, confirmed the invitation of the former governor.

  • Top Borno civil servant bags 28 years jail term for N86m fraud

    Top Borno civil servant bags 28 years jail term for N86m fraud

    A Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, has sentenced a civil servant, Ma’aji Shettima Arfo, to 28-years-imprisonment for engaging in an N86.1 million contract fraud.

    Arfo, who was sentenced to jail by Justice Haruna Mshellia, of Borno State High Court, 3, was the General Manager of the state-owned Maiduguri Flour Mills Limited, where he committed the fraud.

    He was charged on a six-count by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for offences bordering on abuse of office and conferring undue advantage on himself.

    The charge sheet showed that Arfo, while acting as the General Manager of the Flour Mill, between 2014 and 2020, engaged in multiple frauds in violation of Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under relevant sections of the same Act.

    One of the counts on which he was convicted revealed that he awarded multiple contracts to Falkwat Multilinks Limited, a private company where he was a director, to supply diesel (Automotive Gas Oil) and maize to Maiduguri Flour Mills.

    Counsel to ICPC, Anas Mohammed Kolo, while arguing the case, told the court that the convict in October 2015, awarded a N4.9 million contract to Falkwat Multilinks Limited to supply 40,000 litres of diesel to the flour mills.

    The court further heard how Arfo, while being a public servant, awarded several contracts between 2016 and 2017 to his private company, Falkwat Multilinks Limited, to supply maize to Maiduguri Flour Mills Limited.

    For instance, he authorized the payments of N42.1 million to his company in July 2016 for the supply of 386.45 metric tonnes of maize and another N23 million to the same company in March 2016 to supply 306.94 metric tonnes of maize to the state-owned flour mills.

    He was convicted for yet another offence when he approved the payment of N16 million to Falkwat Multilinks to supply 217.45 metric tonnes of maize.

    Justice Mshellia, at end of the trial, found the general manager guilty of four counts out of six preferred against him and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each count. The judge ruled that prison terms will run concurrently.

  • Fraud: EFCC reveals content of Naira Marley’s iPhone in court

    Fraud: EFCC reveals content of Naira Marley’s iPhone in court

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, displayed before a Federal High Court Lagos, virtual projection of a Compact Disc (CD) with 51,933 pages analysis of the iPhone of Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley.

    The EFCC projected the virtual, through its second witness, Mr Augustine Anosike, a forensic analyst.

    Anosike was still leading evidences in the trial of the defendant, who is facing an 11 counts charge, bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards as well as fraud.

    The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019

    Fashola, who sang the popular song: “Am I a Yahoo Boy”, was consequently, arraigned on May 20, 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he pleaded not guilty.

    The court had accordingly, granted him bail in the sum of two million naira, with two sureties in like sum.

    Trial had since commenced in the case and the second prosecution witness who began his testimony shortly before the covid 19 lockdown in 2020, continued his evidence on Wednesday.

    The witness who resumed his testimony on Tuesday, concluded his evidence after the virtual display.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, had told the court at the last adjourned date, that the prosecution only printed out hard copies of relevant portions of the exhibit, which it considered key to its case.

    He had told the court that a full version of the total analysis was contained in a CD

    The printed copies of the exhibit is labeled exhibit F while the CD containing full analysis is exhibit F1

    The court had granted prosecution leave to display the CD in a projector, in order to discharge its burden of proof as required by law.

    Also on the last adjourned date, the witness had narrated, how different text messages and chats containing credit card details, were exchanged between the defendant and another recipient identified as Yadd.

    When trial resumed on Wednesday, the witness, again reiterated portions of his earlier testimonies of Oct. 26, and indicated the visual spots of those testimonies, on the screen of the projected CD.

    For instance, the witness showed visual displays of the credit card numbers, chats, as well as the incoming and outgoing short message services (SMS), which were analysed from the defendant’s iPhone.

    The witness typically identified the “message trafficking” between the numbers +447426343432 and +447548061528.

    On the whole, he told the court that the CD contained a total of 51,933 pages of the analysis conducted on the defendant device.

    After the CD was displayed for about 45 minutes, the prosecutor then asked the witness to confirm if exhibits A and D, were vital elements of his analysis, and he replied in the affirmative.

    Exhibit A is the Forensic Report Form, while exhibit D is the iPhone of the defendant.

    Oyedepo then indicated to the court, that he had concluded examination of the witness, adding that whatever remained was left for his address

    During cross examination, defence counsel Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN, first sought leave of court to apply for a variation of its order and prayed that the court takes custody of the iPhone of the defendant which had been in custody of the prosecution.

    According to him, the Federal High Court is well capable of keeping the exhibits in its custody, adding that it would also create ease for defence to apply for the exhibits if needed.

    The court noted the requested.

    Fielding questions from Ojo, the witness confirmed to the court that he had confined his analysis within the compass of his forensic reports.

    When defence counsel asked the witness to confirm if his analysis had also covered possible number of persons that had used the said iPhone of the defendant, the witness replied that the number of persons were not ascertained.

    Defence asked “As an experienced operative, are you aware that it is possible for a person other than the owner of a phone to have access to the use of that phone,”

    The witness replied “That will only be possible where the owner grants access,”

    When the witness was asked who supplied him with the password to the iPhone, he told the court that the defendant provided the password to the investigating operatives who consequently, transmitted same to him for his analysis.

    He told the court that he only had knowledge of the period the iPhone was brought to him for forensics and not when it was taken from the defendant.

    When asked to confirm the number on the iPhone the witness told the court that the registered number on the phone is iCloud +447426343432.

    MeanwhIle, when defence counsel reminded the witness that he had told the court during examination, that the telephone number of the defendant was 07426343732, the witness replied that any sim can be inserted in a device.

    When asked to confirm if there is a difference between the owner and user of a device, the witness answered “The names on a phone can be changed depending on what the owner chooses to use,”

    Defence then asked the witness to show to the court from the two pages of his analysis summary, where he had indicated that there was a change of names in the device.

    The witness replied that although it was not captured, the content of his report also reflects the content of the device as recovered therein.

    Justice Oweibo adjourned trial until Nov. 30, Dec. 13, and Dec. 14.

    According to the EFCC, the defendant committed the offence on different dates between Nov. 26, 2018 and Dec.11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.

    The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.

    It alleged that the defendant used a bank credit card issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.

    The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud which amounted to theft.

    The alleged offence contravenes the provisions of sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.

  • Alleged N7.1bn fraud: FG appeals judgement prohibiting retrial of Orji Uzor Kalu

    Alleged N7.1bn fraud: FG appeals judgement prohibiting retrial of Orji Uzor Kalu

    The Federal Government has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to order a fresh trial in an alleged N7.1billion laundering charge against the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

    The government is asking the appellate court to set aside the September 29 judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which prohibited it from retrying the former governor and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited.

    The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), also wants the Appeal Court to order Senator Kalu and his company, to submit themselves for retrial, in line with the order of the Supreme Court in its May 8, 2020 judgement, voiding the earlier trial and conviction of Kalu and two others, and ordering a retrial.

    The requests were contained in two notices of appeal, filed by a lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, against the two judgements delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier in September barred the Federal Government from retrying the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, on the N7.1billion money laundering charge which the EFCC earlier preferred against him.

    In a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the court held that the Supreme Court did not in the verdict it gave on May 8, 2020, order the retrial of either Kalu or his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited.

    Justice Ekwo held that the Supreme Court only ordered the retrial of former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, who was the appellant before it.

    In reaction, the EFCC said it will appeal this judgement.

    Kalu was serving a 12-year jail term for N7.1 billion fraud when the Supreme Court, ruling on an appeal by his co-defendant, Ude Udeogu, on May 8, 2020, nullified the proceedings leading to their conviction.

    The Supreme Court had ordered a retrial at the Federal High Court.

    But Kalu who profited from the ruling to secure release from the Kuje Correctional Centre filed an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop his retrial.

    Earlier today, Justice Ekwo had granted the ex-governor’s request on the grounds that the apex court’s judgment did not order his retrial and that by virtue of Section 36 (9) of the 1999 constitution as amended, or Section 283 (2) of the ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act), “no person can be retried on the offence upon which he has been convicted”.

    The EFCC in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, however, believes the judge erred in this ruling as it says Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution is applicable only where the previous judgment was by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    In this case, the apex court had in the said judgment, described the process that led to the conviction of Kalu as a nullity because the judge came from the Court of Appeal to decide the matter.

    The Commission further averred that the court erred in its ruling that the Supreme Court did not order the retrial of Kalu; that it amounts to cherry-picking for Kalu to profit from the decision of the apex court nullifying the conviction of his co-defendant, Ude Udeagu but is not prepared to face the burden of retrial.

  • U.S. Justice Department charges 11 Nigerians with online fraud

    U.S. Justice Department charges 11 Nigerians with online fraud

    Nine Nigerians arrested Wednesday
    Eleven Nigerians were indicted by U.S. Justice Department Wednesday with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service announced the unsealing of the indictment.

    As alleged in the indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court, some of the 11 Nigerians were identified as Adedayo John, Oluwadamilola Akinpelu, Kazeem Raheem, Morakinyo Gbeyide and Warris Adenuga a.k.a Blue.

    There were also Smart Agunbiade, Lateef Goloba, Samsondeen Goloba, Olawale Olaniyan, Olawoyin Peter Olanrewaju and Emmanuel Oronsaye-Ajayi.

    They were all collectively accused of participating in one or both of a money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud conspiracy, which received funds stolen from victims.

    The charge was in connection with their involvement in laundering millions of dollars in proceeds derived from business email compromises and romance fraud schemes.

    Nine defendants were arrested Wednesday in the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of New York, and were presented before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York.

    One defendant was arrested in the Southern District of Texas, and was presented in that district’s federal court.

    One defendant remains at large.

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants were part of a criminal enterprise that not only defrauded businesses by assuming the online identities of legitimate counterparties, but also preyed on vulnerable elderly people, deceiving victims into sending money in phony romance scams. Thanks to the Secret Service, the defendants are now facing federal felony charges.”

  • Court jails ex-Navy Captain 13 years for N45m fraud

    Court jails ex-Navy Captain 13 years for N45m fraud

    The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentencing of a retired Navy Captain, Jerry Ogbonna, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for stealing and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N45 million.

    The conviction of the retired Navy Captain was secured by the EFCC on Wednesday after a long drawn case.

    Ogbonna, alongside his company, Obyke System Consult Limited, obtained the sum of N45 million from Diamond Bank Plc by falsely presenting to the bank that the said money represented the mobilisation fee from the Department of Petroleum Resources of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    The convict had previously appeared before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court in 2016 before the case was struck out after several attempts to have him take his plea proved abortive.

    However, the matter was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Dada.

    He was arraigned on April 19, 2018 on a five-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    One of the counts reads: “That you, Navy Captain Jerry Ogbonna (retd.) and Obyke System Consult Ltd, on or about the 5th day of July 2012 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to wit; stealing of forty-five Million Naira, properties of Diamond Bank Plc and committed an offence contrary to section 409 and 5(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011.”

    Another count reads: “That you, Navy Captain Jerry Ogbonna (retired) and Obyke System Consult Ltd, sometime in July 2012 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of (N45,000,000.00) forty-five Million Naira, properties of Diamond Bank Pic, which was erroneously paid to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and was later reversed into your Fidelity Bank account on the 5th day of July, 2012, which you never did, and committed an offence contrary to Section 285(1) and 278(1)b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

    In view of his plea, the prosecution, led by A.B.C. Ozioko, commenced trial on January 14, 2019.

    During the course of trial, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several pieces of evidence to prove the guilt of the defendant.

    Upon conclusion of trial, Justice Dada found the defendant guilty of the offences and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and three years on count five.

    Justice Dada also ordered that the company be wound up and pay a fine of N5 million.

    The convict was also ordered to make a restitution of N45 million to Diamond Bank Plc.