Man accused of fraudulent activites sentenced to jail after failing to account for N6 million in his account

Justice O.A. Egwuatu of Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has sentenced a Nigerian man to one year imprisonment over involvement in fraud activities.

During the court sitting, the court convicted and sentenced the suspect, identified as Ukoh Michael Odeh, to the aforementioned one-year imprisonment.

TopNaija understands that Michael’s arrest came when an intelligence report sent to the command reported the suspicious activities of some individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters in Makurdi.

Following the raid by some operatives, Odeh was subsequently arrested and charged to court.

The charge reads: “That you, Ukoh Michael Odeh, between 2022 and 2023 in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fail to account for the source of N6,000,000 (Six Million Naira only) in your FCMB account No: 4668442010 when you reasonably ought to have known or suspected that the said unaccounted funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity to wit: Fraud and Money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act”.

The defendant pled guilty to the accusation. M. Yusuf, the prosecution attorney, asked the court to convict him in light of his plea.

Justice Egwuatu offered him the choice of a N300,000 fine and ordered the prisoner to forfeit N300,000 as reparation to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Odeh must also surrender an Infinix 7 smart phone to the Nigerian government as profits of illegal conduct.