A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita to seven years in prison for fraud amounting to N127.6 million.
This was contained in a statement issued by the EFCC yesterday.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie, found Ita guilty on a twelve-count charge of forgery and misappropriation of funds. The case was prosecuted by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to court documents, Ita was accused of falsifying corporate records and diverting company funds for personal use.
One of the charges stated that she forged a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) document related to Sharpnet Concept Limited, falsely claiming authorization from a director of the company.
Also, another charge revealed that she unlawfully took possession of N45 million paid by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) for a contract executed by ROK Projects Limited and Sharpnet Concept Limited. The prosecution argued that she ought to have known the funds were proceeds of fraud.
Ita, however, denied all charges, according to the statement, prompting a legal battle that began in 2019. EFCC’s legal team, led by Joshua Abolarin, presented evidence and called witnesses to support the case.
The case originated from a petition filed by two directors of Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited. They alleged that Ita fraudulently removed them from the company’s records, altered official documents, changed the registered address, and reallocated company shares to herself. She also reportedly claimed to be the second wife of Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita, who passed away in 2004.
The statement partly reads: “She pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting her trial that commenced in 2019. In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin called witnesses and presented incontrovertible evidence.”
“Convinced that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Oghogho-rie convicted and sentenced Ita to seven years imprisonment.”
“Ita’s journey to Nigeria Correctional Centre commenced when the Commission received a petition in 2019 from Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited initiated by two of its directors alleging that Geraldine Orok Ita forged and fraudulently altered the documents of the companies in favour of herself by removing the two initial directors from the companies’ records and claiming to be the second wife of Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita who died in 2004. The petitioners further stated that besides carrying out the fraudulent alterations, the convict appointed a new company Secretary on November 6, 2014 and changed the registered address of the companies at No. 25, Uyo Street, off Market Road, Port Harcourt, River State and made re-allotments and return of allotments of shares.”
