Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on Thursday, November 3, 2022 convicted and sentenced David Osigbe Orimekhai to six month imprisonment for cheating to the tune of N17,470,000.00 (Seventeen Million Four Hundred and Seventy Naira).

Orimekhai was first arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on September 21, 2021 on a one count charge but pleaded not guilty. He was remanded by the court.

At the resumed hearing, the defendant through his counsel O.C Nwankwo informed the court of his decision to change his plea.

An amended charge was read to him and he pleaded guilty.

The charge reads: “That you, David Asigbe Orimekhai, sometime in February 2021 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced Mada Darzma Gadzama by deceiving him to deliver the total sum of Seventeen Million Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (N17,470,000.00) being money allegedly to finance a contract with Terres Des Hummes, Danish Refugee Council and Solidarities International, all Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102 Laws of Borno State 1994 and punishable under section 322 of the same law.”

Upon his plea, counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed prayed the court to convict and sentence him as charged. But counsel for the defendant, Nwankwo pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Kumaliya thereafter convicted and sentenced Orimekhai to a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira fine or six months in prison.

Media & Publicity

3 November, 2022