Fake Army Lieutenant Jailed Two Years for N500k Auction Car Scam in Ekiti

By Joseph Sunday

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has convicted and sentenced one Bethel Onyedikachi Ukachukwu to two years imprisonment for car auction fraud.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye delivered the judgment on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after the defendant was arraigned by the Ekiti Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a three-count amended charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and dishonest conversion.

The court heard that Ukachukwu fraudulently obtained N500,000 from one Kayode Aina Samuel on April 15, 2026, under the pretext of securing a bid for a vehicle auctioned by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The EFCC told the court that the convict also falsely presented himself as a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army to defraud the petitioner. He neither delivered the vehicle nor refunded the money.

One of the charges read: “That you, Bethel Onyedikachi Ukachukwu, sometime on 15th April, 2026 at Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) from one Kayode Aina Samuel under the pretext that you will use the same money to bid for an auction car for him with Nigeria Customs Service, which pretext you knew to be false…”

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Saidu Yusuf, called a prosecution witness, Emmanuel Onuminya, and tendered exhibits and evidence, which were admitted by the court.

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 convicted Ukachukwu and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N150,000 fine.

The convict has been remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre.

The development was contained in a statement signed by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC.