Justice Sabiu Yahuza of the Federal High Court, Dutse on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 convicted and sentenced one Bello Dominic Oizamisi to one year imprisonment with hard labour on a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretence brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Bello , a student of Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State allegedly fraudulently displayed a car for sale on the internet, in which one Abdul-Azeez Abdul-Rahman eventually showed interest in buying. In the course of negotiation, the convict allegedly demanded from Abdul-Rahman, the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000.00) to be used for registration, auction papers and clearance of the car. The money was wired to him through his account in one of the new generation banks. After an endless wait for the car to be delivered, it dawned on the victim that he had been scammed. Hence, he petitioned the EFCC.
The count reads:
“That you Bello Dominic Oizamisi on or about 21st day of January, 2013 within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Dutse knowingly retained the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (100,000.00k) being proceeds of an illegal act on behalf of Oluyeba Peter Ozaveshe and Dominic Ozamisi being the sum obtained under false pretence from one Abdulazeez Abdurrahman for registration, auction and clearance papers of a nonexistent car, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act”.
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty.
Upon his plea, counsel to EFCC, Musa Isah urged the court to convict the accused accordingly.
Justice Yahuza consequently convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with option of one hundred thousand naira (N100, 000.00) as fine.
