Uju Peace Izuogu
Story By Gbenga Ogunbufunmi
Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, sentenced two fake Bureau De Change operators, Uju Peace Izuogu and Richard Owegie, who defrauded their victim of the sum of N162 million, to a total of 17 years imprisonment.
While Uju was given 12 years each on the two counts charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence, her co-convict, Richard was given seven years each on two counts of conspiracy and aiding and abating.
Justice Faji also ordered the winding up of Reoworld Enterprises Limited, a company used as conduit pipe in committing the fraud and forfeits its assets to the Federal government of Nigeria.
The trial judge also ordered the two convicts, Uju and Richard to make restitution of the sum of N121 million to the victim of the fraud.
The convicts’ sentence terms, according to the presiding judge will start counting from September 5, 2017, when they were first arraigned before the court.
The two fake BDC operators, were charged before the court by the men of Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), ikoyi, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, obtaining the sum of N162 million by false pretence and fraud.
During their trial, the prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel Jackson, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), had told that the convicts used the ploy of assisting their victims in sending the money to their clients in China, Dubai and Turkey, for the payment of goods they ordered for, but ended up defrauding them.
The prosecutor had also told the court that it took the police longer time to arrest the first convict, Uju Peace Izuogu, who collected the money through her Diamond Bank account from the fraud victims, at her hide out in Ghana.
CSP Jackson had told the court that the offences committed by the convicts were contrary to and punishable under sections 8(a) and 1(3), and 1(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2014.
The convicts, while admitting that they collected the monies from their victims, however told the court that they were disappointed by their business associates.
However, Justice Faji, had on the November 27, had dismissed the defence put up by the convicts, while held that the prosecution has successful prove it case against them beyond every reasonable doubt and consequently convicted them.
