Ex-maritime Academy Staff Bags 110 Years Jail Term over N22m Fraud

A former staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria
Charles Emmanuel Afaha has bagged 110 years imprisonment by Justice Agatha Okeke Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Justice Okoke gave the ruling on Friday, January 27.

Afaha was arraigned on October 13, 2018, on an eleven-count charge bordering on forgery by the Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!

One of the counts read:

“That you, Charles Emmanuel Afaha “M” on or about the 20th of October, 2016 at Oron, Akwa Ibom State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did forge a document to wit: Obinco Enterprises (Nig) receipt No. 0897 dated 20/10/2016, in the sum of N3, 384, 100 (Three Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand, One Hundred Naira only), purported to have been issued by Obinco enterprises (Nig), with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act Cap M, 17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) and punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of the same Act.”

Afaha however pleaded “not guilty” when he was arraigned, setting the stage for the prosecution to prove its case.

The prosecution, through its counsel, T. N. Ndifon called five witnesses and tendered several exhibits which were admitted in evidence.

Meanwhile, delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Agatha Okeke said:

“The prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the offence of forgery against the defendant in all the counts.”

Afaha was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on each count without an option of fine. The sentencing runs concurrently from the date of arrest.

The Court also ordered that the convict shall restitute the sum of N22, 848, 450 to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

According to the court, the sum would serve as a condition for his release upon the completion of his time in prison.

Afaha was a former staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron of Akwa Ibom State.