The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 4, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Aishatu Arowojobe before Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on an amended two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
Arowojobe was first arraigned on January 15, 2019 on a one-count charge to which she pleaded “not guilty”.
The count reads: “That you, Blessing Aishatu Arowojobe, between February 3 and February 22, 2018 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N7,065,000 (Seven Million and Sixty-five Thousand Naira) from one Tim Onyeator by falsely representing to him that it was the cost of ‘garri’ business and purchase of plots of land for cassava plants, which pretence you knew to be false.”
The charge was afterwards amended to two counts and she still pleaded “not guilty”.
The EFCC had received a petition from the victim who alleged that the defendant collected the money at different times, with the promise to help venture into garri production business by purchasing plots of land for the cultivation of cassava plants for the onward processing to garri for sales.
Investigation, however, revealed that after collecting the N7,065,000 the defendant instead diverted the fund to personal use purchasing jewelry and personal effects.
In the course of the trial the prosecution presented three witnesses and tendered 14 exhibits to prove the case against her. Arowojobe, however, never took to the dock to defend herself, neither did the defence open its case while the trial lasted.
Delivering ruling today, Justice Dada held that the prosecution established a prima facie case against the defendant and so convicted her as charged on both counts.
She was thereafter, sentenced to seven years in prison on count one and three years in prison on count two to run concurrently from January 15, 2019 the day she was first arraigned. She was also ordered to make restitution to her victim.
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