Love Scammer Jailed after defrauding Foreign Lover $140,000
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 secured the conviction of one Onovo Osita Malachy at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. He was said to have fraudulently obtained the sum of $140,000 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars) from a foreigner through a love scam.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
The charge reads: “That you Onovo Osita Malachy on or about 4th day of July 2017 in Benin Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did by means of fraudulent trick to wit: love scam on a dating site obtained the sum of $140,000 only from Helen Wang and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.”
Based on his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Larry Aso Peters, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
The defence counsel, I. U. Uchechukwu pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant “has become remorseful”.
Justice A. A. Demi-Ajayi sentenced the defendant to 12 months imprisonment. The convict is also to forfeit all assets traced to him including an uncompleted building and a Toyota Camry 2007 model to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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Surety Bags 3 Years in Jail for Impersonation
….Another One Year for Fraud
Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on January 17, 2019 convicted and sentenced Festus Aniedel to three years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Aniedel had stood surety for Victor Etsede, a suspect being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for fraud.
But beyond standing surety for Etsede, investigations by the EFCC revealed that the identification card presented by Aniedel in which he claimed to be a staff of the Rivers State Sports Council, was forged. He had used the card to pose as a Level 12 officer working at the Council.
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At the point of arraignment, he pleaded “guilty” to a three-count charge bordering on “conspiracy, forgery and uttering”, which was preferred against him the EFCC.
Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced him accordingly.
In a related development, the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Commission on January 17, 2019 secured the conviction of Umar Galadima at the Federal high court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. He was said to have defrauded and obtained the sum of N5.3 million from one Jazime Isah Mustapha for selling a house at No 16 Tola Road Badarawa, Kaduna which he already sold to another person.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
The charge reads: “That you, Umar Galadima, sometime in February 2017, in Kaduna within the judicial Division of the Federal High Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N5,300,000 (Five Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Jazime Isah Mustapha under the false pretence that you are the rightful owner of the property situate and known as No. 16 Tola Road, Badarawa, Kaduna which you claim you have the right to sell same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 ( 1 ) ( a ) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
In his judgement, Justice S.M. Shuaibu sentenced him to one year in prison and another one year, if he fails to pay the balance of the money as restitution to the victim.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
17th January, 2019
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EFCC Nabs ‘Pastor’ for N27.9m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, arrested Anu Ojo Olakonori, a self-acclaimed Pastor and founder of Angel on Guard Ministries for a N27.9 million fraud.
Olakonori was arrested following a petition by the victim. The complainant alleged that sometime in 2016, she was introduced to the suspect by a pastor of hers in Bauchi for prayers and cleansing because of the difficulties she was going through at the time.
The suspect under this guise started requesting for money from her and she made transfers to him in different tranches amounting to N27, 900,600 (Twenty Seven Million, Nine Hundred Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) only.
Investigation has also revealed that the suspect used the said sum to purchase various properties – house and cars, for himself.
He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
