- Michael was found guilty of fraud, as charged by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
- He pleaded guilty to the crime
On Friday, Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Ukoh Michael Odeh to one year in prison. Michael was found guilty of fraud, as charged by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC became aware of Michael’s suspicious activities, suspected to be related to internet fraud, and arrested him during a sting operation in Makurdi.
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.”
When the charge was presented to him, he pleaded guilty. Taking his plea into consideration, the prosecuting counsel, M. Yusuf, requested that the court convict him accordingly.
In response, Justice Egwuatu convicted and sentenced Michael to one year in prison, with the option of paying a fine of N300,000.00.
Additionally, the convict is required to forfeit N300,000.00 as restitution to the Federal government of Nigeria through the EFCC. Furthermore, the Infinix 7 smartphone, which was obtained through criminal activity, is also to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.