Justice U. J. Mogboh of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Agbani has convicted and sentenced George Amechi Igwesi to seven years’ imprisonment for land fraud involving the sum of N11.4 million.
Igwesi was arraigned alongside his company, Georgeann Enterprises Limited, by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 19, 2023, on a two-count charge of stealing and obtaining by false pretence. The offence contravenes Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
According to the charge, Igwesi and his company obtained the sum of N11.4 million from one Charles Emeka Okenwa on July 1, 2022, under the false pretence of selling two plots of land located at Amurri Road, Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Igwesi pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, prompting a full trial. During proceedings which began on January 23, 2024, the EFCC, represented by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, called three witnesses and tendered several documents, all admitted in evidence.
In delivering judgment on June 19, 2025, Justice Mogboh ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court convicted Igwesi on both counts and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of fine. Additionally, he was ordered to perform six months of community service at the High Court premises, as provided under Section 392 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2007.
The court further directed Igwesi to pay N7 million in restitution to Okenwa, having already refunded a portion of the money during investigation. However, Georgeann Enterprises Limited, the second defendant, was discharged and acquitted.
Igwesi was initially arrested on July 1, 2022, after it was discovered that he fraudulently collected N12 million from Okenwa under the claim of owning the land in question. Investigations later revealed that the property did not belong to him, and he neither delivered the plots nor refunded the full payment.
