Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court has sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years in prison following her conviction for a multi-million naira business scam involving the fictitious supply of baking powder.
The court found Uzoamaka guilty of obtaining N5,600,000 by pretence from her victim, MrOchayi Anthony Eneche.
The legal battle began following Uzoamaka’s arrest for a botched business deal. Under the guise of a legitimate supplier, she convinced Eneche that she had 500 cartons of “D-Rich” baking powder available for sale in Aba, Abia State.
According to the prosecution, once the victim transferred the funds into her Access Bank account, the “supply” never materialised. Instead, Uzoamaka converted the money to her personal use, prompting a criminal petition and her subsequent arraignment on August 18, 2021.
One of the five counts against her highlighted the specific intent to defraud: “You did obtain the sum of N2,000,000 only from Ochayi Anthony Eneche… under the false pretence that you had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking powder you would sell to him, which pretence you knew to be false.”
During the trial, prosecution counsel Salihu Sani built what the court described as a “compelling case.” Sani called four witnesses to the stand and submitted a flurry of documented exhibits that traced the movement of the stolen funds.
While Uzoamaka pleaded “not guilty” and stood as the sole witness in her own defence, her testimony failed to sway the court against the weight of the evidence presented by the state.
In her final judgment, Justice Sabo affirmed that the prosecution had proven the elements of Advance Fee Fraud beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The defendant is hereby convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment on all five counts,” Justice Sabo declared.
However, the judge provided a window for leniency, granting the convict an option of a N500,000 fine instead of a prison term.
