Nigeria: Court Charges Woman To 14 Years Imprisonment Over Fraud

By Longtong Ibrahim

Simon Aboki of the State High Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State in north central Nigeria, on Tuesday convicted and sentenced one Hanna Abraham to 14years imprisonment on a three count charge of obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N7million preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convict was said to have, under false pretence, obtained the said sum as loan to supply 22 trucks of diesel to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, and diverted it to other purposes other than what it was meant for.

EFCC’s spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, noted in a statement that the offence contravenes Section 1 (1) a, Section 1 (b) (i) and Section 1 (b) (i) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006 and Dishonoured Cheque Offences.

She pleaded not guilty to the counts when she was arraigned.

After diligent prosecution, Justice Aboki found Abraham guilty on all three counts.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Aboki sentenced her to 10years imprisonment on count one and two years each on counts two and three without option of fine.

While the sentence is to run concurrently, the convict is to refund all monies collected from the complainant, he added.