JOSEPH EYO EKANEM, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal is against the judgment of the High Court of Justice, Benue State, holden at Makurdi (the trial Court) coram A. O. Onum, J. in case No. MHC/85C/2013 delivered on 7/10/2016. In the judgment the trial Court found the appellant, along with a co-accused person, guilty of the offence of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence with intent to defraud contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. Even though it is not disclosed in the judgment of the trial Court at pages 551 to 564 of the record of appeal, it is stated in the notice of appeal against the judgment that he was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment without option of fine for the offence.
Some of the facts leading to this appeal as given in evidence by the prosecution are that the appellant is the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Hakkim-B Universal Ventures Limited (th…