Court jails Internet fraudster as EFCC arraigns NEMA pilot over N91m fraud

…Docks businessman over N3.5m fraud

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

Justice A.O. Onovo of Enugu State High Court has sentenced one Obinna Udoji to one year in prison for obtaining the sum of $9,654 by fraudulent means from one Alina Ruso. The convict, Udoji, a graduate of the Department of Building Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 7, 2019 following a report. He was arrested by operatives of the EFCC following intelligence report that he fraudulently obtained money from one Alina Ruso, which he claimed was to be invested in a company, Zenith Margin, which turned out to be false. He was subsequently arraigned before Justice A.O. Onovo of an Enugu State High Court, for the offence of obtaining money by false pretence, to which he pleaded “guilty”. The judge, however, asked the prosecution led by Innocent Mbachie, to present its witness, “in order for the court to hear the facts of the case”. Thereafter, a prosecution witness was called, who narrated how an intelligence report was received by the EFCC, which led to the investigation and arrest of Udoji. Tendered as evidence were the intelligence report, statements, bank statements, scanned emails from Udoji’s computer and emails from the EFCC to the victim to establish the case, including Udoji’s application for plea bargain. Mbachie, further told the court that Udoji had returned the money to his victim, and urged the court to “convict him in accordance to Section 367 subsection 8, 9 and 10 of the Administration of criminal Justice Act”. Defence counsel, T.U. Nweke, pleaded with the judge to “temper justice with mercy” as his client was a first-time offender and an orphan. Justice Onovo, on February 7, 2019 sentenced him to one year in prison, noting that, “I took cognizance of his plea and his restituting of the total sum to the victim”. Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Mamman Ali Ibrahim before Justice A. I. Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, sitting in Gwagwalada, on a two-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust. Ibrahim, who served as a pilot in-charge of Air Ambulance Aviation Unit and Helicopter Emergencies Service with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is alleged to have diverted over N91 million, meant for taking care of the fleets, including Airbus, Air ambulance and the Helicopter. His journey to the dock on February 7, 2019, followed a petition to the office of the Vice President, which was forwarded to the office of the acting EFCC Chairman, for investigation. Investigations revealed that Ibrahim commercialised both the ambulance and the helicopter. He, however, claimed that the directive to commercialise them came from the office of a former vice president and a former Accountant General of the Federation, AGF. Further investigations also revealed that the total sum of N285 million was realised from the commercialisation of the aircraft, while N63 million was paid to the AGF. It was also gathered that N11 million was paid to NEMA, while the balance was yet to be accounted for. According to the petition, over N4 million was paid into the account of Aerocare West Africa Limited, a company belonging to the defendant, which he transferred to his family members. One of the counts reads in part: “That you, Mamman Ali Ibrahim, whilst being employed in the public service and serving as a pilot in-charge of Air Ambulance Aviation Unit and Helicopter Emergencies Services with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, between 2014 and 2015, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being entrusted with dominion over money, to wit, the sum of N64,550,810 (Sixty Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ten Naira) only, being part of the proceeds realised from the commercialisation of the aircraft belonging to NEMA”. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Deborah Ademu-Eteh, asked the court for a trial date. Defence counsel, Aduojo Abah, however, moved the motion for the bail of his client. Ademu-Eteh opposed the application, urging the court to “consider the severity of the punishment and the character of the evidence before the court”. After listening to all the arguments, Justice Kutigi granted him bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum. The surety being a public servant not lower than level 14, must be a resident within the jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to April 10, 2019, for trial. In a related development, the EFCC also arraigned a businessman, Okemuo Celestine and his company, Kemus Motors Nig. Ltd, on a one-count charge of stealing by conversion before Justice I.N. Ngwu of an Enugu State High Court. Okemuo was said to have received the sum of N3.5 million from a Catholic Women’s Organisation with a promise to procure a coaster bus for them only for him to convert same to his personal use. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. His counsel, O.C. Eduzoribe, asked that the administrative bail granted to his client by the EFCC be continued. Prosecuting counsel, B.N.Obasi-Eze, however opposed the application, arguing that “the administrative bail granted to a suspect expires as soon as he is brought to court for arraignment”. “A new bail application must be moved,” Obasi-Eze argued. Eduzoribe, thus moved the bail application of his client. Justice Ngwu, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a Level 10 officer in the civil or public service living within the jurisdiction of the court. The case has been adjourned to March 21, 2019 for trial.