June 16, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno appears to have been convicted of criminal charges, a copy of judgement obtained by THEWILL has revealed.
Eno was convicted by Hon. Emmanuel Iyanna of the Chief Magistrate District of the Federal Capital Territory Holden at Wuse on December 20, 2022 for the offence of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property contrary to Section 325 of the penal code law, cap 89, laws of Nigeria 2004.
The provisions of Section 325 of the penal code provides that; ” Whoever cheats and thereby fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person deceived to deliver any property to any person or to make , alter or destroy the whole or any part of a document of title or anything which is signed or sealed and which is capable of being converted into a document of title , shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine” the court ruled.
The complainant in the suit was Mr Edet Godwin Etim.
Etim informed the court that he was working with the defendant ( Eno) as a catering staff for Exxon Mobil producing Nigeria Limited via contracting service of the defendant’s company, Royalty Hotels & Recreations Ltd, and that the defendant converted the sum of N15,227,000.00 being wages due to him and refused to pay him; despite several demands. That the defendant upon repeated demands and protest in company of other workers working in the defendant’s Hotel who were suffering the same fate requested to have a roundtable discussion with the Complainant on the 2nd day of April, 2007, rather that on this date in the course of the meeting the defendant ordered his security agents to lock the complainant inside the Hotel premises and was there for 7days without access to his phones or contact with his family. That it took the intervention by the authorities of ExxonMobil Producing for his release and get the suspension on him lifted .
“That the defendant in October 2010 , paid him a paltry sum of N227,000.00 leaving the unpaid balance of N15,000,000.00.
Delivering the judgement, Hon. Iyanna said “Therefore, on the circumstances and facts of the instant case as can be gleaned and the essential element of the offence established and the Complainant proven beyond reasonable doubt to ground conviction. The complainant having proven guilt of the defendant.
” The defendant is therefore proven guilty and is hereby convicted of the offence of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property contrary to Section 325 of the penal code law, cap 89, laws of Nigeria 2004.
” This is to serve as deterrent to him and to persons of his like mond . Bench warrant is hereby issued against the accused person.
” The court shall impose sentence only when the accused person is arrested or surrenders to the custody of the court , pursuance to Section 325 (1); (5) of ACJA 2015. This I so hold.”
Jun 4, Doc 1
