By Otuya Daniel
Four executive members of the Edo State Welders Association, ESWA were on Friday, January 21, 2022, sentenced to seven years imprisonment each for N15m fraud.
Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City sentenced the quartet of Isaac Ogundimu, John Odaro, Andrew Egharevba and Omorogbe Jacob to seven years imprisonment or a fine of N650,000 each.
The defendants were arraigned in 2017 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing by conversion and forgery, contrary to the Bendel State Criminal Code Law 1976 as applicable in Edo State and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the same law.
According to a statement by the EFCC spokesman, the welders were said to have converted the sum of N15 million disbursed by the Edo State Government to the Edo State Welders Association for the empowerment of welders in the state to their personal use.
Upon arraignment, the four defendants pleaded not guilty setting the stage for full trial.
In proving the allegations against the defendants the prosecution counsel, Moses Arumemi, Austin Ozigbu, Onyeka Ekweozor and Ibrahim Mohammed, called five witnesses and tendered eight exhibits while the defendants filed a no case submission which was dismissed by the court and were ordered to enter their defence.
Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele in her judgement found the defendants guilty, convicted and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment or a fine of N650, 000 each.