Ex-Navy Captain bags 13 years for N45m fraud
01 October 2021 |
3:00 am
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a retired Navy Captain, Jerry Ogbonna, to 13 years imprisonment for stealing and obtaining money
Nigerian Navy. PHOTO: NAN
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has sentenced a retired Navy Captain, Jerry Ogbonna, to 13 years imprisonment for stealing and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N45 million.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had arraigned Ogbonna, alongside his company, Obyke System Consult Limited, for obtaining the sum of N45 million from Diamond Bank Plc, by falsely presenting to the bank that the said money represented the mobilisation fee from the Department of Petroleum Resources of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The convict had previously appeared before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court in 2016 before the case was struck out after several attempts to have him take his plea.
EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement yesterday said, the matter was subsequently re-assigned to Justice Dada.
He was arraigned on April 19, 2018, on a five-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Navy Captain Jerry Ogbonna (retd.) and Obyke System Consult Ltd, on or about July 5, 2012, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to wit; stealing of forty-five Million Naira, properties of Diamond Bank Plc and committed an offence contrary to section 409 and 5(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No.11 of 2011.”
Another count reads: “That you, Navy Captain Jerry Ogbonna (retired) and Obyke System Consult Ltd, sometime in July 2012 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N45 million properties of Diamond Bank Pic, which was erroneously paid to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and was later reversed into your Fidelity Bank account on July 5, 2012, which you never did, and committed an offence contrary to Section 285(1) and 278(1)b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
In view of his plea, the prosecution, led by A.B.C. Ozioko commenced trial on January 14, 2019.
During the course of the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several pieces of evidence to prove the guilt of the defendant.
Upon conclusion of the trial, Justice Dada found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on count one, seven years on count two and three years on count five respectively.
Justice Dada also ordered that the company be wound up and pay a fine of an N5million.
The convict was also ordered to make restitution of N45 million to Diamond Bank Plc.
Related
3 hours ago
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) monitoring unit in Abuja has launched a nationwide hunt for Dorcas Adeyinka, a blogger based in the United Kingdom, over alleged murder, abduction, cyber-stalking, extortion, injurious falsehood, and threats to life. Adeyinka is also being wanted for offences bordering on abduction and injurious falsehood, according to a special police bulletin…
3 hours ago
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja has found guilty and convicted one Mrs. Ramat Mercy Mba, a mother of five children guilty of forging the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, the late Abba Kyari. The presiding judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammad however deferred the sentencing of the convict…
4 hours ago
The Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted three trailer loads of opioids, comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, at Abule Ado in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that three suspects were also arrested in…
4 hours ago
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is facing backlash for its response to the case of a father who exploited his 4-year-old daughter to pose for a 'pornographic' photo posted on Instagram. The Edo-based father reportedly created an Instagram account for his daughter, calling her a "model" and referencing an adult film actress as her "mentor."…
4 hours ago
The Federal Government is working on a system that will provide tax relief to 95 per cent of the informal sector of the economy in the country.
4 hours ago
The Federal Government says it remains committed to enhancing food and nutrition security as it prepares farmers for the 2024 wet season farming in the country.
4 hours ago
The Joint Military Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, has uncovered no fewer than 50 illegal refining sites within the Biseni forests in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa.
4 hours ago
Chief Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has appealed to Nigerians not to give up on the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
6 hours ago
Nigerian sprinter Tobi Amusan has become the world's fastest woman in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.40 seconds. Amusan, a world record holder, stole the show at the first Jamaica Athletics Invitation on Saturday, beating American Tonea Marshall's previous record of 12.42 seconds, set in April. Danielle Williams, the current world champion and home favourite,…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.