ALLEGED $850,000 FRAUD: MAN JAILED ONE YEAR IN LAGOS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on Monday, March 9, 2026, sentenced Obiajulu Emeka Emmanuel to one year imprisonment for obtaining $850,000 under false pretences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1) had initially arraigned Emmanuel on November 10, 2025, on a 21-count charge that included obtaining under false pretence, forgery, and retention of stolen property, contrary to provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Among the charges, Emmanuel was accused of: Between January 4 and December 17, 2018, dishonestly converting ₦12,330,423.90 belonging to Taeko Omomo for his own use.
Between January 7 and December 27, 2019, dishonestly converting ₦8,697,505.89 belonging to the same victim.
During trial, prosecution counsel, C. C. Okezie, presented several documents which the court admitted into evidence. She also informed the court that the EFCC had previously obtained a final forfeiture order from Justice Chukwujekwu Joseph Aneke for three of Emmanuel’s properties, which were forfeited to the victim, Taeko Omomo.
Following developments in the trial, the EFCC amended the charges to seven counts, and Emmanuel was re-arraigned on March 5, 2026. He subsequently changed his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
In delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced Emmanuel to one year imprisonment, effective from March 9, 2026, and imposed a fine of ₦1,000,000, payable within 30 days. The court also upheld the forfeiture of the three properties to the victim and directed Emmanuel to undertake to be of good behaviour before the EFCC.
The case arose from a business arrangement in 2018 between Emmanuel and Omomo to establish a company, First Unspeakable Grace Ltd, for purchasing land and developing properties. Omomo transferred a total of $850,000 to Emmanuel for the property acquisitions. Emmanuel, however, neither acquired the properties nor returned the funds to the petitioner, leading to the prosecution and subsequent conviction.
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