Kano Court Sentences Woman to Seven Years for N5.6m Fraud

The Kano State High Court has sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years in prison for obtaining N5.6 million by false pretence.

Delivering judgment in Kano, Justice Maryam Sabo found Uzoamaka guilty on a five-count charge bordering on dishonest misappropriation of funds totaling N5,660,000.

The defendant was arraigned on August 18, 2021. She pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.

According to the prosecution, Uzoamaka fraudulently collected N2 million from Ochayi Anthony Eneche on January 18, 2021. The money was paid into her Access Bank account under the claim that she had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking Powder available for sale. Investigators told the court that the claim was false and that she had no intention of supplying the goods.

The offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

During the trial, prosecuting counsel Salihu Sani called four witnesses and tendered documentary evidence, which the court admitted. The defendant testified in her own defence but called no additional witnesses.

In her ruling, Justice Sabo convicted Uzoamaka on all five counts and sentenced her to seven years’ imprisonment. The court, however, gave her the option of a N500,000 fine.

The case stemmed from a transaction in which the defendant received funds for the purported supply of D-Rich Baking Powder from Aba, Abia State, but failed to deliver the goods. The court held that she converted the money for personal use.