Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced Uno Michael Eke, the CEO of Micheno Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, to one year in prison for conspiracy, obtaining property by false pretenses, and money laundering, amounting to N2 billion.
Eke was convicted after pleading guilty to four amended charges brought against him by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The first charge states that between June and August 2018 in Calabar, Eke, along with the registered trustees of Micheno Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, including the now-fugitive Vice President Aya Kanu Aya, conspired to commit an offence by obtaining property under false pretenses, violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second charge accuses Eke of obtaining N2 million from Kubnse Ogar Ebute in July 2018 under the false pretence of providing an 80% return on investment in 40 days through his cooperative, an offence punishable under the same fraud act.
Upon his guilty plea, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin urged the court to convict him based on the charges, while the defense counsel, Ime Umanah, requested a lighter sentence due to a plea bargain.
Considering both the guilty plea and evidence, Justice Oghoghorie sentenced Eke to one year in prison or a N2 million fine.
Additionally, Eke was ordered to forfeit assets to the Federal Government, including twelve two-bedroom flats in Calabar, two plots of land in Odukpani and Calabar, 18 self-contained flats in Calabar, and N10 million recovered during the investigation. The judge also directed that all funds recovered be restituted to the victims.
Eke’s conviction stemmed from his fraudulent activities, where he promised victims an 80% return on investments in 40 days.
Investigations revealed that he raised N2 billion by opening multiple bank accounts in his name and the company’s, using the funds to acquire properties in Calabar.
