A Lagos State high court sitting in Ikeja has convicted a Nigerian couple, Mr Augustine Ezeama and Mrs Juliet Ezeama, of fraud to the tune of $120 million.
The couple were being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on seven counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
On Thursday, Justice O. H. Oshodi found them guilty of the charges proffered against them by EFCC and consequently convicted them.
The company, CIFERCOM LLC had lodged a complaint against Mr Ezeama and his company, Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited for defrauding it of $102,550 as processing fees for a non-existent contract.
According to EFCC, in January 2015, Mr Ezeama convinced the firm, CIFERCOM LLC, to come to Nigeria promising to facilitate a huge contract for them.
Mr Ezeama thereafter introduced a business proposal of $8,000,000 to the company. The company later paid the sum of $102,550 to Mabrubeni Nigeria Limited, a firm owned by Mr Ezeama and his wife Juliet whom he introduced as as a Federal Government agent, who served as intermediary between them.
In May 2015, Mr Ezeama told the complainant that the new President wanted the project extended to cover the whole country with a new cost of $120,000,000.00 and he was expected to pay an additional $650,000.00 before June 10, 2015.
Upon not receiving any contract after a long wait, the complainant approached the EFCC through his lawyers for investigation into the matter.
After investigations, the couple were charged to court by the EFCC but both pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel for the second defendant prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first time offenders.
He told the court that “This is a first time offence for the defendants and they have realised their mistake. The second defendant, Juliet Ezeama, has been coming to court since she was arrested on September 8, 2016. They are parents who also have children that need parental care.”
Mr A. Adepoju, the first defendant’s lawyer patted the court to be in convicting the the couple.
The presiding judge revoked the bail granted to the couple and ordered that they be remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre. He then adjourned the matter until July 7, 2022, for sentencing