By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court, Akure, on June 19, 2017 convicted and sentenced one Dr. Martins Olurankinse to ten years imprisonment on a nineteen-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Olurankinse ‘s ordeal followed a petition dated July 22, 2008 from the National Universities Commission, NUC, alleging that he operates an unapproved institution in the name of Open International University, Collombo Sri-Lank, Akure and using the said institution to fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting students.
Upon arraignment, defendant pleaded not guilty to the counts when they were read to him.
The defendant was first arraigned before Justice G. C. Okeke but the matter suffered a setback after the Judge retired and the defendant was arraigned afresh on February 28, 2013 before Justice Sani.
After a successful trial with the prosecution presenting four witnesses including one blessing Awogbami Ayobami (one of the victims) and the testimonies of the defence, Justice Sani found the defendant guilty on five counts and discharged him on fourteen counts because the victims could not come forth to testify.
The judge, consequently, sentenced Olurankinse to two years imprisonment on each of the five counts without option of fine.
The convict is also to restitute the victims.
“The sentence is to run concurrently”, said the judge.
Court Jails Fraudster 21 Years for Fraud
The EFCC, also secured the conviction of one Onwuka Lambert and two others before Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence.
Other defendants are Omuchunu Monday and Munir Adamu.
Their arraignments followed a complaint from Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) alleging that the accused forged a Re-instatement letter in respect of 50, Cadestral Zone BO3, Wuye District, Abuja.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In proof of its case, the prosecution presented seven witnesses and closed its case on June 5, 2012.
The first defendant testified for himself as the sole witness and closed his case on December 13, 2016. He made a no-case submission which was overruled.
On the other hand, the second and third defendants (Monday and Adamu) jumped bail and efforts by the Commission to find them yielded no result. Consequently, the prosecution prayed the court to continue with the trial in the absence of the second and third defendants, which was granted.
After diligent prosecution, Justice Talba convicted Onwuka on three counts and discharged him on one, while Monday and Adamu were convicted in absentia on two counts of conspiracy and forgery.
The judge, however, reserved the sentencing of Monday and Onwuka till when they are arrested or surrender themselves to the court in line with Section 352(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015.
Consequently, Lambert was sentenced to seven years imprisonment without option of fine on count one and seven years each with option of fine of N50,000 (fifty thousand naira) on counts two and three.
The sentences are to run concurrently.By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
