The convict was released on bail together with the other convicts
on terms friendly to the convicts. The present convict was
granted bail on 10th March, 2014. Then trial began on the 5th
May, 2015. After the 5th May, 2015, the convict never appeared
again in this Court to face her trial until today when she was
brought to Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission after being arrested at Uyo, by Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission Uyo Office on another complaint. In
otherwords, from the 5th May, 2015 to 11th March, 2019, the
convict disappeared and she was evading arrest by prosecutory
agencies. It also appears that the convict in order to avoid trial of
the charge against her relocated to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State under
the pretext that she is receiving herbal and traditional healing of
her strange ailment. The attitude of the convict did not depict the
convict as a remorseful and repentant person. And the prevalence
of these type of offences in our society today is becoming really
worrisome. And therefore appropriate punishment in form of
sentence ought to be imposed to serve as a deterrent to like
minds of the convict. Thus, by the provision of section 1(3) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, the Maximum
prescribed for the offence in which the convict was convicted is a
maximum of 20 years and a minimum of 7 years without an
option of fine.
I will therefore be lenient on the convict. The convict is hereby
sentenced to seven (7) years imprisonment without an option of
fine. Further, in line with section 321 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the three convicts are to collectively
restitute the victim of crime of the sum of N20, 000,000.00.
_______________________
HON. JUSTICE D.Z. SENCHI
(PRESIDING JUDGE)
20/03/19
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