The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Office on Friday 13 September, 2019 secured the conviction of one Nuhu Clarkson Usman.
A press statement signed by the head of Public Affairs in the Zone, Nwanyimma Okeanu, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the Commission had arrested, investigated and taken Usman before Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Following a plea bargain agreement between him and the Commission, he was re-arraigned on a one-count amended charge that replaced the initial charge against him.
The count reads: “That you Nuhu Clarkson Usman on or about the 27th of July, 2019 at Makurdi, in the Makurdi judicial division of the Federal High Court did steal an electronic card to wit: A First Bank Plc debit card issued in the name of Magdalene Orofo Adigwe with Account No. 3022665853 and withdrew the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only, from the said account and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 33(3) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, prevention Etc) Act, 2015”.
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja, urged the Court to accept the plea bargain and convict him accordingly.
Justice Maha pronounced him guilty and subsequently sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with option of fine of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Also that the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) that has been refunded during the course of investigation to the Commission be paid to the complainant as restitution.
The Court also ordered the convict to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour and never to be involved in any form of fraud within and outside the country, adding that failure to comply will attract judicial sanctions.
The Court ordered him to be remanded in prison custody pending the payment of fine.
Trouble started for Usman when he was arrested by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in relation to a case of Electronic Card Related Fraud.
Investigation revealed that the convict transferred the sum of two hundred thousand naira (N200,000.00) using the stolen ATM card without the victim’s consent.
The convict was arraigned before the Federal High Court Abuja on September 13, 2019, wherein he pleaded guilty to the amended charge.
