An Ikeja High Court on Thursday sentenced a car salesman,
Michael Ugochukwu Nkwocha, to five years in prison for stealing
N9,500,000 from his uncle, Mr. Patrick Ekeh, who is based in
the United States (US).
Justice Kudirat Jose in charge of the case found Nkwocha guilty
of stealing after over two years of trial.
The offence contravened Section 39 of the Criminal Code Law of
Lagos State, 2011.
Nkwocha was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) on December 13, 2013 on charge No.
ID/435C/13.
The commission said sometime in January 2011, he converted
the N9.5m, property of Ekeh, with intent to defraud.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
During trial, EFCC witness, Mrs. Francisca Okorafo, testified that
she was the complainant’s elder sister and that he shipped cars
to her in Nigeria from the US.
Okorafo said because of an educational programme she was
running at the time, she handed over the car sales business to
their cousin, Nkwocha.
The court heard that between 2008 and 2010,Ekeh shipped over
28 vehicles to Nkwocha in Lagos.
After an audit in 2010, Nkwocha could not account for four
vehicles: two Honda Accord cars, one Infinity and a Toyota Land
Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV).
Another EFCC witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Sunday Afolayan told the court that during interogation, Nkwocha
admitted selling the four vehicles for N10,500,000 out of which
he reportedly gave someone N3,500,000 without Ekeh’s
permission.
Mrs. Anita Imo was prosecution counsel while Mr. G. T.
Agbaeren represented the defendant.
The defendant was granted N2,000,000 bail.
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