Kano Woman Sentenced to Seven Years for N5.6 Million Fraud

A Kano State High Court has handed a seven-year prison sentence to Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka for defrauding a victim of N5.6 million.

Justice Maryam Sabo delivered the verdict following a trial initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which began with Uzoamaka’s arraignment in August 2021 on a five-count charge of dishonest misappropriation.

The court found that Uzoamaka deceived her victim, Ochayi Anthony Eneche, by claiming she would supply 500 cartons of baking powder from Abia State.

After receiving the funds into her Access Bank account, she failed to deliver the products and instead used the money for personal expenses.

While the defendant initially pleaded not guilty and testified in her own defense, the prosecution successfully proved its case through four witnesses and various documentary evidence.

Although sentenced to seven years for violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Justice Sabo granted Uzoamaka the option to pay a N500,000 fine.