A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has convicted and sentenced a woman – Felicia Daniel – to one year imprisonment for fraudulent acquisition of money.
Justice Abdu Dogo summarily sentenced Daniel on March 22, after she pleaded guilty to one-count charge bordering on fraudulent acquisition of funds in the sum of N1,225, 000 ( One Million, Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Naira only).
The one-count charge read: “That you, Felicia Daniel “F” sometime on 5th December, 2020 in Makurdi, Benue State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, engaged in the acquisition of N1,225,000.00 (One Million Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Naira) only transferred to your Eco Bank account No. 0060300307/ 2161301698 by one Blessing Ibe – Union Bank Account No. 0043349875, knowing that at the time of acquisition of the said money it was derived from unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (1) (a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment Act) 2004 and punishable under Section 18 (2) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to her. Upon her plea, prosecution counsel, M. Yusuf, prayed the court to convict and sentence her as charged.
Justice Dogo, thereafter, convicted and sentenced Daniel to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N300, 000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira only).
Felicia Daniel’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner alleged that on December 3, 2020, she mistakenly transferred N1,250,000 into her account, adding that all efforts to recover the money proved abortive.