Justice H.I.O. Oshomah of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Blessing Adunun to two years imprisonment for stealing by conversion to the tune of Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Naira (N238,000.00)
She was convicted on Friday, March 19, 2021 after pleading “guilty” to one- count amended charge, following his arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charge bordered on stealing by conversion, contrary to Section 33 (2) (b) Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 33 (2) (c) of the same Act.
The charge reads:โThat you Blessing Adunun on or about the 4th day of September, 2018 at Port Harcourt Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud used unauthorized access device and obtained the sum of Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Naira only (N238,000.00) from one Eunice Adeleke and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 33 (2) (b) Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, Etc. ) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 33 (2) (c) of the same Actโ.
Based on Adunun’s “guilty” plea, prosecuting counsel, F.O. Amama prayed the court to convict and sentence her accordingly. However, defence counsel, Nobel. I. Ikemba sued for leniency “because the convict is a first-offender and also a young lady”
In his judgment, Justice Oshomah found Adunun guilty as charged and convicted and sentenced her to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira only (N100,000.00).
He also ordered that the said One Hundred Thousand Naira (100,000.00) be paid into the Federal Government’s TSA Account.
Also, the convict is to restitute the sum of Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Naira (238,000.00) only to one Eunice Adeleke, her victim, and sign an undertaking to be a law- abiding citizen before the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.
Adunun got into trouble when a petitioner, Eunice Adeleke, reported her to the EFCC for fraudulently obtaining her banking details and used them to withdraw a sum of Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand Naira (238,000.00) in two instalments of One Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Naira (165,000.00) and Seventy-Three Thousand Naira (73,000.00).
She was subsequently arrested by the EFCC and charged to court.
