Two Brothers Sentenced to Long Term Jail over N25 Million Fraud

Justice Ibrahim N. Buba, according to the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, of Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has convicted two brothers- Collins and Ikechukwu Avoaja to seven years in jail after they were found  guilty on a 13-count charge of fraud and obtaining money under false pretence preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Judge also convicted  the company, CeeCee Concept Multiple Nigeria Limited which was used by the Avoaja brothers to carry out their fraudulent transactions 

He said: “The court ordered the accused persons to pay back the worth of the bank guarantee in the sum of N25, 000,000.00 (Twenty five million naira) to Fidelity Bank Plc as restitution.

“It would be recalled that in October 2008, CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited was availed a Bank guarantee to the tune of N25, 000,000.00 (Twenty five million naira only) in favour of Globacom Limited, Warri Branch, for the purchase of Globacom recharge cards.

“Collins Avoaja, who was the Marketing Manager of Globacom Limited at the time he committed the crime, also doubled as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CeeCee Concept Multiple Nigeria Limited, a fact that Globacom Limited claimed it knew nothing about until the crime was discovered.

“Investigations also revealed that Ikechukwu Ovoaja was a co-director of CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited and conspired with his brother, Collins Avoaja to commit the crime.

“According to the petitioner, Collins Avoaja used his position as the Marketing Manager of Globacom Limited to order stock to his company, CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited, without complying with the terms and conditions spelt out by Fidelity Bank Plc in the Bank guarantee.

“CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited issued several post-dated cheques to Globacom Limited, but all turned out to be dud cheques as CeeCee Concept Limited account was not funded. 

“However, the timely intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN in January 2010 caused Fidelity Bank Plc to pay Globacom Limited, the cash equivalent of the total amount of stock released to CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited after Globacom called in the Bank guarantee.

“This prompted Fidelity Bank Plc to petition EFCC on the activities of CeeCee Concept Nigeria Limited as well as the two convicts, Collins and Ikechukwu.