Fake army officer jailed for car scam

Nkereuwem Effiong

A High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced Bethel Onyedikachi Ukachukwu to two years’ imprisonment for defrauding a man of ₦500,000 under the false pretence of securing an auctioned vehicle through the Nigeria Customs Service.

The conviction was secured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Lekan Ogunmoye at the Ekiti State High Court on amended charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion.

According to the EFCC, Ukachukwu collected ₦500,000 from Kayode Aina Samuel after claiming he could secure an auctioned vehicle on the victim’s behalf through the Nigeria Customs Service. Investigations later revealed that the claim was false.

One of the charges alleged that the defendant obtained the money with intent to defraud by falsely claiming it would be used to bid for an auctioned vehicle. Another charge accused him of dishonestly converting to personal use the funds entrusted to him for the purchase of a vehicle.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.

Following the guilty plea, the prosecution, led by Saidu Yusuf, presented evidence through its first witness, Emmanuel Onuminya. The court admitted the exhibits tendered and the prosecution subsequently urged the court to convict the defendant.

Counsel to the defendant, T.A. Salami, pleaded for leniency, informing the court that his client was remorseful and had made restitution to the complainant.

In his judgment, Ogunmoye convicted Ukachukwu and sentenced him to two years in prison, with an option of a ₦150,000 fine.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated that the convict had falsely presented himself as a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army to gain the confidence of the victim before obtaining the money. He neither delivered the promised vehicle nor returned the funds.

Ukachukwu has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre.