Woman bags seven-year jail term for N5.6m fraud

Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court has convicted and sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years imprisonment for obtaining over N5.6 million by false pretence.

Uzoamaka was arraigned on August 18, 2021, on a five-count charge bordering on dishonest misappropriation of funds totalling N5.66 million.

According to one of the charges, the defendant allegedly obtained N2 million from a victim under the pretext that she had 500 cartons of D-Rich baking powder for sale. The funds were paid into her account domiciled with Access Bank Plc, a representation the prosecution said she knew to be false.

She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to a full trial. During proceedings, prosecution counsel Salihu Sani presented four witnesses and tendered documentary evidence admitted by the court, while the defendant testified as the sole witness in her defence.

In delivering judgment, Justice Sabo found the defendant guilty on all five counts and sentenced her to seven years imprisonment. The court, however, granted her the option of a N500,000 fine.

The court heard that Uzoamaka collected the money from her victim under the claim that she would supply D-Rich baking powder from Aba, Abia State, but failed to deliver the goods and instead diverted the funds for personal use.

Her conviction followed investigations and prosecution that established the fraudulent transaction, leading to her sentencing in Kano.