The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 secured the conviction of one Onovo Osita Malachy at the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.

The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. He was said to have fraudulently obtained the sum of $140,000 (One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars) from a foreigner through a love scam.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

The charge reads: “That you Onovo Osita Malachy on or about 4th day of July 2017 in Benin Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did by means of fraudulent trick to wit: love scam on a dating site obtained the sum of $140,000 only from Helen Wang and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.”

Based on his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Larry Aso Peters, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.

The defence counsel, I. U. Uchechukwu pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant “has become remorseful”.

Justice A. A. Demi-Ajayi sentenced the defendant to 12 months imprisonment. The convict is also to forfeit all assets traced to him including an uncompleted building and a Toyota Camry 2007 model to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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