Fake Army officer jailed 2 years for N500,000 car auction fraud

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, has sentenced Bethel Onyekachi Ukachukwu to two years imprisonment for defrauding a man of N500,000 under the pretext of securing an auctioned vehicle for him.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye handed down the sentence, after Ukachukwu pleaded guilty to a three-count amended charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekiti Zonal Directorate, prosecuted the convict.

According to the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Ukachukwu collected N500,000 from Kayode Aina Samuel on April 15, 2026, claiming that the money would be used to bid for an auctioned car on Samuel’s behalf through the Nigeria Customs Service.

The EFCC said the convict, however, neither secured the vehicle nor refunded the money.

One of the charges alleged that Ukachukwu obtained the money with intent to defraud, knowing that his claim about securing an auctioned vehicle was false.

Another count accused him of dishonestly converting the N500,000 entrusted to him for the specific purpose of purchasing a motor vehicle.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Saidu Yusuf, called Emmanuel Onuminya as the first prosecution witness and tendered exhibits and other evidence against the defendant.

The court admitted the exhibits in evidence, after which the prosecution urged the court to convict Ukachukwu.

Counsel to the defendant, T.A. Salami, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client was remorseful and had made restitution to the petitioner.

Justice Ogunmoye subsequently sentenced Ukachukwu to two years imprisonment with an option of N150,000 fine.

Oyewale said the convict had falsely presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army to facilitate the fraud.

He had been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre before the conclusion of the case.