The economy and financial crime commission EFCC Ibadan zone Oyo state command has secured a conviction for mrs. Mutiat Adio, A former Deputy Chief Registrar of the Oyo State High Court.
Mrs. Adio has been sentence to three years imprisonment for presenting a dud cheque for the purchase of a car, her conviction was secured last Friday.
She pleaded guilty to charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and issuing of dud cheque, this is contrary to section 419 of the criminal code Law, Cap. 38, Laws of Oyo State 2000 and Section 1 (1) (b) of the Dishonored Cheque (Offences) Act, Cap. D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, in a statement released to the public after the conviction said Mrs. Mutial. Purchase a 2000 model Toyota Pathfinder SUV, which valued N1,500.00 from Fabunmi Samuel of Fatai Olnrewaju Motors, she presented a cheque value at the same amount.
The cheque was dishonored after three months for insufficient funds, Adio was arranged on January 30, 2018, she pleaded not guilty, but, later pleaded guilty after the charges was amended as a result of plea bargain which lead to the amendment of the charges.
She was pronounced guilty by justice Owolabi of the offence and sentenced her to three years in prison. The court also ordered her to restitute to the victim the sum of N500,000.00 in addition to what she had previously paid.
The issue of dud cheque has been a major concern to EFCC, it is advisable to issue a cheque that can be honored, it is a criminal offence to issue a dud cheque in Nigeria, according to a senior police officer who wish to be anonymous.
Barrister john, said “A dud cheque offence is a crime, if you most issue a cheque, make sure there is money in your account or if you are expecting money make sure you are sure the money will come, but, if your expected money is not coming, you most send a text message to the person notifying, that the expected money has a delay that he should not present the said cheque, till you give’s the go ahead to do so, it must be on text not verbal”.
