Kano Court Jails Woman Seven Years for N5.6m Fraud

Kano, Nigeria | February 24, 2026

Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka to seven years imprisonment for obtaining the sum of N5,600,000 (Five Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) by false pretence.

Uzoamaka was arraigned before the court on August 18, 2021, on a five-count charge bordering on dishonest misappropriation of funds totaling N5,660,000 (Five Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira).

One of the charges reads:
“That you, Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka, on the 18th January 2021 at Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) only from Ochayi Anthony Eneche, which you caused to be paid into your bank account number 0093030293 domiciled with Access Bank Plc under the false pretence that you had 500 cartons of D-Rich Baking Powder you would sell to him, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant initially pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to her, paving the way for a full trial.

During the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Salihu Sani, presented what the court described as compelling evidence to establish the defendant’s guilt. The prosecution called four witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence. In her defence, Uzoamaka testified as the sole witness.

Delivering judgment, Justice Sabo found the defendant guilty on all five counts and sentenced her to seven years imprisonment. The court, however, granted her an option of a N500,000 fine.

Uzoamaka’s conviction stemmed from her arrest for obtaining N5.6 million from her victim under the false pretence of supplying D-Rich Baking Powder allegedly sourced from Aba, Abia State. Investigations revealed that after receiving the funds, she failed to supply the goods as promised and instead converted the money to her personal use.

With the conviction, the court reaffirmed its stance against financial crimes and fraudulent practices, warning that offenders would face the full weight of the law.