Fake Army General bags jail term

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday, secured the conviction of Uyime Omoruyi over $999 fraud. Omoruyi was said to have fraudulently induced one Mary Cuter to deliver the said whooping sum of money to him.

EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade in a statement explained that Omuruyi was arraigned before Justice Samirah Bature of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama on an amended charge bordering on attempted cheating and impersonation.

He said the charge reads: “That you, Uyime Omoruyi (aka Gen. Barnett Riggs Edward) sometimes in 2018 at Abuja within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, did attempt to cheat, by posing as a United States General Barnett Edward Riggs, an American soldier deployed to Afghanistan and fraudulently induced one Mary Cuter to deliver the sum of $999 (Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Dollars) that the money is payment for clearance of a package with World Link Courier Service, a claim which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 (a) of the Penal Code punishable under section 324 of Penal Code, laws of the Federation (Abuja) 1990.”

Orilade stated that Omoruyi was first arraigned on April 4. He reportedly pleaded guilty to the amended charge after it was read to him.

It was, learnt that the Prosecuting counsel, Best Ojukwu, thereafter, prayed the court to sentence the defendant, accordingly.

But the Defence counsel, Adachi Abel, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying the convict had shown remorse for his actions, and “he cooperated with investigators and helped them apprehend similar offenders”.

Delivering judgment, Justice Bature said, “The convict was a first-time offender and he has saved the State from expending resources and time by pleading guilty on arraignment”.

It was based on the aforestated reason that the Judge convicted him with a fine of N50,000 in default of which, he should go for one year imprisonment in Kuje Prison, Abuja.

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