Court jails man nine years for fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday secured the conviction of one Emmanuel Akabueze (also known as “Temple Nneameka Obiora”), who was prosecuted on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery before Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, Kano State.

Mr. Akabueze, while parading as Nneameka Obiora, an accountant in Mother Cat, in connivance with one Tony Momoh, who introduced himself as an old acquaintance working with PHCN to the complainant, sometime in April, 2012, told him (complainant) of his desire to contract the purchase and supply of a Solar Model ISA for one of his foreign business partners.

Along the line, the convict and his accomplice collected the sum of N410,000.00 (four hundred and ten thousand naira) from the victim to perfect “the deal”, and thereafter went underground.

Efforts by the victim to either have them deliver on their promise or recover his money were unsuccessful.

After diligent prosecution, Justice Riman found Akabueze guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on each count. The sentence is to run concurrently.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay back the money to the victim as restitution, a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.