The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, #EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, on Monday, May 13, 2019 secured four different convictions at a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The convicts are: Wasiu Rasak, Chinedu Jude Abah, Rome Steven Itimi and Richard Uduma.

They were all convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment each by Justice M.I. Sani.

Rasak was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The charge reads: “That you, Wasiu Rasak, sometime in July 2018, at Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the High Court, retained the sum of N1,350,00.00 (One Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on behalf of Ola Oladipupo which is a proceed of a crime, knowing or suspecting him to be engaged in a criminal conduct, thereby committed an offence, contrary to section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under section 17(b) of the same Act.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Both prosecuting counsel, Samuel Chime and defence counsel, Obinna Ofodile agreed on the convict’s plea of “guilty”.

Rasak got into trouble when he posed as a lawyer to defraud a lady of the sum of N1,350,000. The lady was deceived by a fake lover, Moferere Temilola, who promised her marriage. They dated for two months. However, on a particular day, Rasak called her that her proposed husband was in prison over a case and that he needed a sum of N1.5 million to resolve the matter. The petitioner quickly raised N1.35 million and sent it to the supposed lawyer, Rasak to resolve the matter.

After a while, Rasak started making other financial demands from her on behalf of the proposed husband. This fuelled the petitioner’s suspicion that she was being scammed and so petitioned the EFCC.

Justice Sani sentenced him to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.

Chinedu Jude Abah and Rome Steven Itimi were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence.