Fraudulent businessman meets waterloo in Borno

By Andrew Orolua, Abuja

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Jailed 1 year for tricking his victim

A fraudulent businessman, one Abdulateef Audu, who believed he could take advantage of the prevailing economic situation to cheat others  has met his waterloo as Borno State High Court  in Maiduguri sentenced him to one year imprison.

Audu, sometime in May 2018 deceived his victim, Awana Rijiya, into parting with the sum of N13, 000.000 in the guise that he had foodstuffs to sell, but surprisingly on Wednesday withdrew his plea of not guilty and admitted tricking Rijiya.

Rijiya had on September 26, 2018 petitioned the Maiduguri office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when it became clear that Audu had collected the sum from him under pretence as Audu could not provide him with foodstuff he paid for.

In the course of investigations, EFCC recovered the sum of N12, 300,000 from Audu and released to Rijiya on bond.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Maiduguri Zonal Office secured the conviction of Audu following one count charge against the defendant for obtaining the sum of N15 million under false pretence.

Upon his arraignment on March 25, 2019 before Justice Fadawu Umar of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, the defendant challenged the jurisdiction of the court.

The trial judge, thereafter, ordered the remand of the defendant in prison, and adjourned to April 9, 2019 for determination of the application.

However, at the resumed sitting, when the court was to rule on the application, Audu, changed his earlier plea of “guilty” to a one-count charge of cheating preferred against him, following a plea bargain with the prosecution.

Justice Umar, subsequently convicted him and sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of N1 million as fine. He was committed to prison pending the payment of the fine.