Bethel Onyedikachi Ukachukwu has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti for defrauding a resident of N500,000 under false pretences of securing an auctioned vehicle from the Nigeria Customs Service. The conviction, delivered on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, followed a plea of guilty by the accused on charges of obtaining money by false pretence and dishonest conversion of funds. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Ekiti Zonal Directorate, had arraigned Ukachukwu on an amended three-count charge related to fraud and financial misconduct.
The prosecution revealed that Ukachukwu collected the sum of N500,000 from Mr. Kayode Aina Samuel on April 15, 2026, claiming he would use the money to bid for a vehicle at a Nigeria Customs Service auction. He presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army to gain trust, but never fulfilled his promise or returned the money. One of the charges explicitly states that Ukachukwu acted with intent to defraud, knowing the claim about the auction vehicle was false, violating Section 1(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
Another count accuses him of dishonestly converting the N500,000 meant for purchasing a motor vehicle on behalf of Mr. Samuel, contravening Section 295(2)(f) and punishable under Section 302(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. After Ukachukwu pleaded guilty, prosecution counsel Saidu Yusuf presented evidence including testimonies and exhibits from witness Emmanuel Onuminya, urging the court to convict. Defence counsel T.A. Salami sought leniency, citing the defendant’s remorse and repayment of the amount to the victim.
Justice Ogunmoye accepted the plea and sentenced Ukachukwu to two years in prison, with an option to pay a fine of N150,000 instead. The EFCC confirmed that the fraudster had falsely represented himself as a military officer to deceive the victim. Since the sentencing, Ukachukwu has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre. This case underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat fraud and restore public confidence in financial transactions. It also serves as a warning against trusting unverified claims, especially those involving government auctions or official positions.
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