Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday, sentenced one Ifeanyi Uche to two years imprisonment for fertilizer fraud.
Uche was sentenced by Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon with an option of fine of N100,000 for obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N325,000.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal office where he pleaded ‘guilty’ after a plea bargain agreement with the Commission.
The count reads: “That you Ifeanyi Uche sometime in October, 2019 in Gboko within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N325,000 only from one Orbunde Nguvern Linda under pretence that she would be awarded a contract for the supply of fertilizer to Federal University of Agriculture, which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
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Following his guilty plea and subsequent review of the facts of the case, the prosecution counsel, Y.Y. Tarfa, prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
However, Counsel to the convict Donald M. Kwaghtser, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client was a first-time offender.
Consequently, Justice Olajuwon convicted and sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N100,000.
He also directed that the sum of N325,000.00 which had been refunded by the convict during the course of investigation be paid to the victim as restitution adding that the convict shall undertake not to commit any further financial crime again.
