The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Saturday that it has secured the conviction of Dr. Geraldine Orok, a medical doctor, for defrauding N127 million.
A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, presided over by Justice Rosemary Oghogho-rie, sentenced Dr. Orok to seven years in prison.
The EFCC’s Uyo Directorate prosecuted Dr. Orok on a 12-count charge, including forgery and the diversion of N127 million in funds.
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One of the charges accuses her of forging a document—an Annual Return Form for Sharpnet Concept Limited—in November 2014.
She allegedly intended for the document, falsely signed by a director, Mrs. Rose Orok Ita, to be used as genuine.
Another charge states that in February 2019, Dr. Orok took possession of N45 million through a bank account for a project executed by ROK Projects Limited/Sharpnet Limited, knowing that the money was linked to a crime involving forgery.
Dr. Orok pleaded not guilty to the charges, which led to a trial beginning in 2019.
During the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence and witnesses. After considering the evidence, Justice Oghogho-rie convicted Dr. Orok and sentenced her to seven years in prison.
Dr. Orok’s legal troubles began in 2019 when the directors of Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited filed a petition with the EFCC.
They accused her of forging and altering the companies’ documents to benefit herself by removing the original directors and claiming to be the second wife of the late Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita, who passed away in 2004.
Additionally, the petitioners alleged that Dr. Orok had made unauthorized changes to the companies’ records, including appointing a new company secretary and altering the registered company address in November 2014.
