Ex-bank manager bags 19 years jail over N27m fraud

A KANO High Court, has jailed one Mr Samuel Owoyele, a former manager with the United Bank of Africa (UBA), for 19 years without an option of fine over a N27 million fraud.

A statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said that Owoyele was sentenced by Justice Dije Aboki who also mandated the convict to pay N20 million as restitution, having been found guilty on all the three count charge against him.

According to the EFCC, trouble started for Owoyele on December 9, 2009, when as a UBA manager, he collected N27 million from one Ashiru Munzali Gambo under false pretence that he had $185,000 to sell to him.

After repeated visits and appeals, the convict could neither give the promised dollars nor the naira equivalent he collected from the complainant. This necessitated a petition to the EFCC.

Justice Aboki, in her judgment, observed that the evidence against the convict was convincing; and that the prosecution had established that the convict acted with the intent to defraud the complainant.

The judge said the convict after inducing the complainant to part with his money; tore the teller that showed the transaction in an attempt to suppress evidence.

“The judge noted that the prosecution had discharged its onus on this count and therefore found the accused guilty as charged. She accordingly, sentenced the accused to 10 years”, the statement said.

On count two, Justice Aboki said that the evidence was the same, but the circumstance differed. She said that false pretence and deception were present and that the accused used the money given to him to pay off another creditor.

She said that the evidence against the convict was overwhelming, credible, clear and cogent. She therefore found him guilty as charged and accordingly sentenced him to seven years imprisonment without option of fine.

The judge also found Owoyele guilty on count three which borders on willful intent to defraud, destruction of a UBA deposit slip No 23504; an offence punishable under section 371 of the Penal Code. She found the accused guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years plus a fine of N300, 000.

Justice Aboki said that she imposed the various prison terms on Owoyele in order to serve as deterrent to those who might like to abuse their offices, betray public trust and confidence like the convict.

Guardian Nigeria