ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A fake investigator identified as Mohammed Momoh, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for defrauding the wife of a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, Mairo Al-Makura.
Following the charge preferred against him by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on false pretence, Justice Peter Kekemeke of a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday.
Justice Kekemeke sentenced Momoh after listening to the allocutus by his counsel, Godwin Omagbogu, on his behalf.
Omagbogu had prayed for leniency on behalf of his client, saying he was a first time offender and father to three little children and a young wife.
The prosecution counsel, Diana Nkwap, however urged the court to use its discretion in sentencing.
The judge held that the punishment under which the defendant is charged attracts 20 years imprisonment maximum and seven years minimum.
READ ALSO: Man Jailed Two Years For Stealing Car Battery
Kekemeke however, held that the convict is sentenced to seven years imprisonment because he must do what the law stipulates.
The judge on February 27, 2024 convicted Momoh when he held that the prosecution proved its case beyond the reasonable doubt to warrant them to have the judgment in their favour after calling three witnesses.
Momoh was arrested in December 2017 by operatives of the EFCC for attempting to defraud Mairo Al-Makura.
The EFCC alleged that the suspect while posing as a private investigator from the “Villa” approached the wife of the governor with a proposal to help stop a purported investigation of two accounts belonging to the governor.
READ ALSO: Minister Prescribes Death Penalty For Vandals Of Power Infrastructure
The anti-graft agency said Momoh claimed that he came across information regarding the two accounts in 2011.
According to the EFCC, the defendant requested for N8 million, but was offered N6 million.
Not clear about the proposal, the governor’s family contacted the EFCC and was asked to play along with the defendant.
The defendant was arrested during a sting operation after he collected marked N2 million notes from Al-Makura.
READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Former Bankers For N15.9m Fraud
The EFCC said the offence is contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
The one count charge read: “Muhammed Momoh, on or about the 22nd day of December, 2017 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2m from one Hajia Mairo Tanko Al-Makura through Idris Ahmed
“Al-makura under the pretext that you are a private investigator with capacity to help the said Hajia Mairo Tanko Al-Makura resolve her case with the EFCC which you knew to be false.”
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Eagles Online