Ekiti Court Sentences Man To 2 Years In Jail For Car Auction Fraud

By RhemDy News 

An Ekiti State High Court presided over by  Justice Lekan Ogunmoye in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, convicted and sentenced one Bethel Onyedikachi Ukachukwu to two years imprisonment  for car auction fraud. 

Ukachukwu was arraigned by the Ekiti Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on  amended three-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence

Specifically, the convict collected the sum of N500,000 by false pretence from Mr. Kayode Aina Samuel under the pretext that he will get a bid for an auctioned car for him with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

In count one, Ukachukwu was accused of collecting the amount sometimes from the complainant on April 15, 2026, with the intent to defraud and obtain the amount under the pretext that he would use the money to bid for an auction car for him with Nigeria Customs Service.

The EFCC said the convict collected the amount in contravention of Section (1) (b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

Count two reads: “That Bethel Onyekachi Ukachukwu on or about the 15th day of April 2026 at Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, did dishonestly convert to your own use the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N500,000.00) being the property of Mr. Kayode Aina Samuel which was entrusted to you for the specific purpose of purchasing a motor vehicle on his behalf and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 295 (2)(f) and punishable under section 302 (1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.”

Ukachukwu pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him.

Following the defendant's guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Saidu Yusuf, called Prosecution Witness 1, Emmanuel Onuminya, and tendered all the exhibits and evidence against the defendant which was admitted as exhibits as evidence by the court. 

Consequently, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to convict the defendant accordingly.

In the same vein, counsel to the defendant, T.A. Salami, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, noting that the convict was remorseful for his actions and had made restitution to the petitioner.

Thereafter, Justice Ogunmoye convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of fine in the sum of ₦150,000.

The convict's journey to the Correctional facility began when he falsely presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army and fraudulently obtained the amount from the petitioner under a false pretence of securing a vehicle for him. 

However, he neither delivered the vehicle nor refunded the money. 

He has since been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre.