Admin l Friday, May 27, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has convicted a couple, Augustine Ezeama and Juliet Ezeama for $120 million fraud.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi convicted the couple on Thursday and reserved sentencing for Thursday, 7, 2022.
According to the EFCC, the couple had on May 6, 2015, obtained $30,570 from a firm, CIFERCOM LLC under the pretext that the money was for registration of CIFERCOM LLC as a company in Nigeria preparatory to the award of an $8m contract to CIFERCOM LLC by the Federal Government.
The defendants were charged on seven count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
The charges read in part, “That you, Augustine Ezeama, Juliet Ezeama and Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited, on or about the 6th of May, 2015 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of $30,570 from CIFERCOM LLC under the false pretences that the money was for registration of CIFERCOM LLC as a company in Nigeria preparatory to the award of a $8m contract to CIFERCOM LLC by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which representation you knew to be false.”They both pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi in his judgment found the couple guilty of the charges and consequently convicted them. The prosecution G.A. Adewunmi pleaded for leniency .
“This is a first time offense of the defendants and they have realized their mistake. The second defendant, Juliet Ezeama has been coming to court since when she was arrested on September 8, 2016. They are parents who also have children that need parental care, I plead the court to have mercy on them.”
The counsel for the first defendant, Mr A. Adepoju also pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy. Justice Oshodi revoked the bail granted to the defendants and remanded them at the Ikoyi correctional center.
