Businessman jailed for issuing false documents

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, convicted and sentenced a businessman, Bernard Nzenwa, to four years and 11 months imprisonment over issuance of false documents.

In a statement obtained from EFCC’s official X handle on Friday, Nzenwa, alongside his company, Omega Maritime and Energy Ltd, were arraigned on December 7, 2022 by the Lagos Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on issuance of false documents.

The count read: “Bernard Okechukwu Nzenwa, Omega Maritine and Energy Limited, and Dr. Oluchi Nzenwa, (now at large), sometime on the 9th March, 2011, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued a false document titled, “Bond for the Re-exportation of Imported Goods Delivered Without Payment of Import Duties”, which you purported to have emanated from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc”.

The defendant, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, thereby leading to his full trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, G. C. Akaogu, called six witnesses, through whom several documentary evidence were presented to prove the case against him and his company.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice R. A Oshodi, held that the prosecution effectively proved the case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubts.

“I find the defendant guilty of false bond, false documents and fraudulent intent, “ he said.

The judge sentenced him to four years and eleven months in prison, with an option of fine of N50m, while the company was fined N50 million to serve as a punishment and deterrent to others.

The journey to the Correctional Centre began for Nzenwa when he issued false documents titled: “Bond for the re-exportation of imported goods delivered without payment of import duties to exporters”.

He was charged to court and found guilty of false bond, false document and false intent.