By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A special offences court sitting at Ikeja has sentenced a businessman, Hilary Ogbobe to 10 years imprisonment for obtaining about N13 million under false pretence.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada while delivering judgement, found Ogbobe and his company, Marine Mayor Limited guilty as charged
However, the judge discharged and acquitted Ogbobe’s wife, Dorothy Ijeomo of the 3rd count’s charge which borders on misdemeanor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had arraigned the defendants on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain and obtain money by false pretence and misdemeanour.
Their offence was said to be contrary to the provision of Section 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.
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They had pleaded not guilty to the charge when they were arraigned on March 15, 2019 by the EFCC. The trial commenced and the prosecution called two witnesses who testified against the defendants.
The prosecution witness (PW1) Ezugwu Christopher Aniebonam, also the victim, in his evidence-in-chief narrated how Ogbobe fraudulently obtained the money from him through Marine Mayor Limited Zenith Bank account.
“He called me and told me there is a Dredger for sale by Lagos State Government and UBA, that he wants to buy the scrap, that I should help him to raise N12 million, and that he would raise N8 million.
“On July 22, 2016, I paid N2 million into his account with Zenith Bank Account name. On August 12, 2016, I paid another N5 million into his account. I then called to inform him and he told me that he was in Enugu and when he comes back we shall see.”
The witness further testified that when Ogbobe came back, he told him that the Dredger had been sold to another person. He told him he had used part of the money. He told the court how traumatic it was for him because there was much pressure from the person he got the money from.
“He did not assent to our agreements, the money was not paid and his body language and attitude was that I cannot do anything.”
After reviewing the submission of the prosecution, Justice Dada found Ogbobe and his company, Marine Mayor Limited guilty and sentenced them to 7 years imprisonment on count one.
On count two, the judge sentenced the businessman to three years imprisonment and ordered the company to pay a fine of N5 million within 30 days of the judgement.
The court ordered that both sentences against the convict shall run concurrently