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| Uyime Omoruyi |
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on April 8, 2019 secured the conviction of one Uyime Omoruyi for fraudulently inducing one Mary Cuter to deliver the sum of $999 (Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Dollars) to him.
Omuruyi was arraigned before Justice Samirah Bature of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama on an amended charge bordering on attempted cheating and impersonation.
The charge reads: โThat you, Uyime Omoruyi (aka Gen. Barnett Riggs Edward) sometimes in 2018 at Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, did attempt to cheat, by posing as a United States General Barnett Edward Riggs, an American soldier deployed to Afghanistan and fraudulently induced one Mary Cuter to deliver the sum of $999 (Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Dollars) that the money is payment for clearance of a package with World Link Courier Service, a claim which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 (a) of the Penal Code punishable under section 324 of Penal Code, laws of the Federation (Abuja) 1990.โ
Omoruyi, who was first arraigned on April 4, 2019, pleaded โguiltyโ to the amended charge after it was read to him.
Prosecuting counsel, Best Ojukwu, thereafter, prayed the court to sentence the defendant, accordingly.
Defence counsel, Adachi Abel, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the convict had shown remorse for his actions, and โhe cooperated with investigators and helped them apprehend similar offendersโ.
While delivering judgement, Justice Bature noted that the convict was a first-time offender and โhe has saved the State from expending resources and time by pleading guilty on arraignmentโ.
The trial judge, thus convicted him and handed him a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira), in default of which, he will spend one year in Kuje Prison.
