The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] in Enugu has secured the conviction of a businessman, Nicholas Emenike, for advance fee fraud.
Emenike and his company, Raso Construction Company Limited, were on 27 March 2017 arraigned before an Enugu State High Court on a two-count of obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N4,467,500.
His ordeal began in 2015 when he was reported to the EFCC by a complainant who alleged that Emenike deceived him into supplying rods for the execution of a multi-million naira building contract he claimed to have won.
After supplying the rods, Emenike issued a post-dated cheque, which was returned unpaid.
An investigation by the EFCC, however, revealed that Emenike was never awarded any contract, as there was no document to support his claim. It was further established that he sold the rods and diverted the proceeds to his personal use.
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The prosecution team led by Ani Ikechukwu Michael opened its case by calling two witnesses and tendering nine exhibits.
Delivering judgement on January 4, 2019, Justice C.C. Ani found him guilty on count one bordering on obtaining by false pretence, and discharged him on count two, bordering on issuance of the dud cheque, and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
