Emmanuel Thomas l Tuesday, May 02, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria– A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja today sentenced notorious fraudster, Ikechukwu Ogbu to 162 year jail.
The convict, in his mid-50s was sentenced for duping a bank manager with Bank PHB, now Keystone Bank, while serving 10 years jail in Mininum Security Prison.
The convict who is currently in prison for two separate offences duped a branch Manager of Bank PHB now Keystone Bank, Mr. Patrick Edet Chukwu of the sum of N12.3 Million under pretence that he was being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and needed some money to give the anti-graft officials before he could be released.
His co-defendant, Chuks Ibebugbu was sed free for lack of evidence in the charge of conspiracy to dupe the bank manager.
The convict had claimed that he was detained by EFCC for allegedly trafficking, “hard currency” in the sum of 2.5 million dollars into Nigeria sometimes ago.
“I find the first defendant guilty of the offences of the charge in the amended charge”, Justice Lateefa Okunnu ruled.
According to her, the defendant and others at large committed the offence between May and October, 2009 while his trial commenced in 23rd May, 2012. Okunnu was visably angry with prison officials for bringing the convict who was already serving 10 years jail in prison to court in mufti. He accused them of aiding and anetting the crime committed while in prison custody.
“By allowing him to use his mufti, Maximum Security Prison facilitated the commission of the crime.”
Mr. Patrick Edet Chukwu had earlier told the court that he was completely deceived because Ogbu, already a convicted prisoner always appeared in mufti each time he visited him at Minimum Security Prision instead of the prison uniform, which he said should have alerted him.
He wondered why a convicted criminal will receive visitors in mufti.
Following his conviction his Lawyer, Olanrewaju Ajanaku pleaded for mercy on his behalf.
Mr. Patrick Edet Chukwu had earlier told the court that he was completely deceived because Ogbu, already a convicted prisoner always appeared in mufti each time he visited him at Minimum Security Prision instead of the prison uniform, which he said should have alerted him.
He wondered why a convicted criminal will receive visitors in mufti.
“I prayed my Lord to temper justice with mercy. The defendant has been in custody since 2009. This particular case plea was taken on 14th May, 2010. His wife died in 2014. He has children of tender ages. Now that his wings have been clipped, he is a changed person, remorseful.
“In the cause of my visits to prison for other matters, I made inquiries , they said he is a changed person. I want you to give him a new shot of life. To temper justice with mercy, I pray you my Lordship, Sir.
But the prosecution, Mr. Nnaemeka Omewa argued, “ prison is meant to be a correctional home. Just two years in prison, he masterminded this crime. The question begging for answer is that if from prison he committed this crime, how much more if he is allowed to live in the society. I wish my Lord to pass the maximum sentence.
