A 50-year-old man, Mr Brendan Chima Okpara has been sentenced to three months imprisonment by an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse, Zone 6 over charges bordering on breach of trust and cheating.
Okpara, a resident of Open Gates Estate, Idu, was convicted on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
A 49-year-old finance consultant and fellow resident of Open Gates Estate, Idu, Maifuwa Aibangbe, accused Okpara of collecting N16,370,000 (approximately $35,500) under the pretense of purchasing two Mercedes Benz E300, 2016 model cars.
Aibangbe transferred the money to Okpara based on their agreement but the convict failed to deliver the vehicles.
The defendant was arraigned on January 10, 2024, after several adjournments, where he denied committing the alleged offenses.
Trial commenced on the 15th January 2024 to enable the prosecution prove its case.
Police prosecutor Okokon Udo Mbruk explained that Okpara was arraigned on charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to Sections 312, and 322 of the Penal Code Law.
Evidence and witness testimonies were presented during the trial, leading to Okpara’s conviction.
“In April 2021, Chima Brendan Okpara approached the victim with an offer to buy a Mercedes Benz E300, 2016 model, with attached pictures, at a sum of $14,500 plus additional repair costs of $1,950 and $1,200 shipment cost. Both agreed to an exchange rate of N460/$1.00. He paid him an initial sum of N4,600,000, representing $10,000, and subsequently N2,967,000.
“Subsequently, he offered another similar car on May 1, 2021, and the victim credited his same account with Union Bank, Majestic Concepts Union Bank Account 0123783463, with additional sums of N4,600,000, N2,530,000, N1,173,000, and N500,000, respectively.
“The total sum transferred to Chima Brendan Okpara’s Union Bank Account (Majestic Concepts Account 012378463) amounts to N16,370,000 (Sixteen Million Three Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira Only). Please find attached evidence of transfers and pictures of the proposed vehicles,” the prosecution told the court.
In the ruling, the Chief Mgistrate, Farida Ibrahim sentenced Okpara to three months in prison for the first count of criminal breach of trust without an option of a fine.
For the second count of cheating, the convict received an additional three months with the option of a N25,000 fine.
The court ruled that Okpara will serve his sentence at either Kuje or Suleja Correctional Center.
The court also ordered Okpara to refund the outstanding N8.7 million to Aibangbe as restitution, failing which he will face an additional ten months in prison.