The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 8, 2022 secured the conviction and sentencing of a notorious Ponzi scheme operator, Umanah Umanah before Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Umana’s nightmare started in 2020 when he was arrested by operatives of the EFCC following a petition by one of his victims, who alleged that Umanah swindled him of over N2.9million (Two million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) and subsequently issued him a N500, 000. 00 (Five hundred Thousand Naira) cheque, which was dishonored by the bank because the account was not funded.
During investigation, the Commission discovered that the defendant lured his victims through bogus promises of return on investment of up to 50% in seven days through his company, No Burn Global Limited, with a network in several states of the federation.
He was subsequently arraigned on Friday, October 16, 2020 on a two-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque, forgery and uttering; offences which contravened the provisions of Section 1 (2) (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act. He pleaded “not guilty” upon arraignment, setting the stage for his full trial.
The prosecution, through its counsel, Adebayo Soares presented three witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted in evidence.
Delivering judgment today, the court said the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted Umana on both counts of the charge. Justice Okeke sentenced Umana to ten years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, starting from the date of his arrest.
One of the counts on which he was convicted reads; “That you, Umanah Ekaette Umanah on or about the 31st day of July, 2017 at Uyo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make a forged document to wit: United Bank of Africa (UBA) cheque with cheque number: 73131308 of NO BURN GLOBAL STAKEHOLDERS MULTIPURPOSE by appending your signature on the said cheque leaflet when not being a signatory to the account of NO BURN GLOBAL STAKEHOLDERS MULTIPURPOSE domiciled with UBA, knowing same to be false and 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 Offences Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”.
Umana met his waterloo when he was arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC on Wednesday July 1, 2020 in Osongoma area of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Before his arrest, he had defrauded scores of victims, both within and outside the country.