AGIS Official Henry Udora Jailed for Nine Years Over Fraud and Bounced Cheques
A senior official of the Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS), Henry Udora, has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment without the option of a fine by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The sentence follows his conviction on charges of advance fee fraud and issuance of dud cheques.
Presiding over the case, Justice Maryann Anenih found Udora guilty of fraudulently obtaining property and issuing worthless cheques, as filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court established that Udora deceived a victim by promising to secure land in Abuja through a company transaction.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Udora defrauded his victim of ₦12.5 million under false pretenses, in contravention of Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud Prohibition and Prevention Act of 2003. Additionally, he issued a cheque for ₦5 million, despite knowing there were insufficient funds in his account—an offense under Section 416 (g) of the same Act.
Upon thorough examination of the prosecution’s case and the testimonies of two key witnesses, the court convicted Udora of both charges. Justice Anenih sentenced him to seven years for the fraud charge and two years for the dud cheque offense, directing that both sentences run concurrently. This means Udora will effectively serve seven years in prison.
Attempts by defense counsel Osita Ibekwute to plead for leniency, citing Udora as a first-time offender, were dismissed by the court. Justice Anenih explained that the Advance Fee Fraud Act does not grant discretion for mitigating sentences. EFCC’s legal representative, Victor Ughagwu, also disclosed that multiple petitions involving millions of naira remain pending against the convict.
In her concluding remarks, Justice Anenih emphasized the widespread damage caused by land-related fraud in Abuja, describing it as a pressing national concern. She affirmed that such fraudulent activities inflict deep harm on victims and must be met with firm judicial consequences to deter future offenses.
