Akachuku Goes to
Akachuku Goes to Jail over $5,260 Romance
Scam
Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Onuoha Danhessy
Akachuku (alias Joe Dickson) to three months imprisonment, for
defrauding an American, Maria Jose Alvarez the sum of $5,260 (Five
Thousand Two Hundred and Sixty American U S Dollars) in a failed
online romance deal.
Akachuku was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, on April 27, 2017
on a seven -count charge bordering on Conspiracy and Obtaining
Money by False Pretense.
One of the counts read: “That you Onuoha Danhessy Akachukwu
(alias Joe Dickson) sometimes between 2015 and 2016, at Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Two Thousand,
Three Hundred and Seventy US Dollars ($2,370) from one Maria Jose
Alvarez (an American) Via Money Gram which you transferred into
your account number 3071174186 domiciled with First Bank Plc under
the pretence that you are Joe Dickson an American Engineer based in
the United Kingdom willing to marry her, a pretext which you knew
to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1
(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences
Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him,
thus necessitating his trial. The trial progressed and the
prosecution counsel, R.E. Alao called three witnesses to establish
the case. However, Akachuku applied for a plea bargain and changed
his plea to “guilty” and the bargain was adopted by both the
prosecution and defence counsels.
Justice Omotoshp convicted him accordingly and sentenced him to
three months imprisonment and a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred
Thousand Naira) only. The convict was also made restitution the sum
of $2000 (Two Thousand United States Dollars) to his victim.
Akachuku’s journey to prison began on April, 2017 when he was
arrested and subsequently arraigned for using many false FaceBook
accounts to defraud one Maria Jose Alvarez, an American of the sum
of Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty American U S Dollars
($5,260).
The convict had claimed to be an American Engineer based in the
United Kingdom. With this disguise, he was able to hoodwink his
victim into a romantic relationship which according to him, will
lead to marriage. However, rather than marry his victim as
arranged, he contrived so many lies aimed at defrauding the
American and succeeded in duping her to the tune of $5,260.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity