A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the case of personation and obtaining N5million by false pretence brought against one Vincent Bulus Venman by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency prosecuted Venman on an 6 count amended charge that bordered on personation, obtaining by false pretense and attempting to obtain by false pretense.

Specifically, the defendant was alleged to have impersonated a former governor of Plateau State, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun to obtain the sum of N5million from Senator Bukar Abba, a former governor of Yobe State. But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the course of trial, the EFCC called four witnesses and tendered documents in the attempt to prove its case, while the defendant testified in person and called no witnesses.

Delivering his judgment on February 3, 2016, the trial judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the prosecution failed to prove the charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. “Accordingly, the accused Defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted of the entire charge”, the judge ruled.

The Court ordered that the sum of N2, 500,000 (two million five hundred thousand naira) and a Toyota Land Cruiser seized from the defendant be released to him.

http://efccnigeria.org/efcc/news/473-n5m-personation-efcc-arrests-vincent-bulus-venman

Media & Publicity
October 14, 2020