The High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Dr Geraldine Orok Ita to seven years in prison for fraud totalling N127,686,594.87.
Presided over by Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie, the court found Ita guilty on a twelve-count charge of forgery and fund diversion.
The case was prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ita, who pleaded “not guilty,” had been on trial since 2019.
EFCC counsel Joshua Abolarin presented evidence and witnesses that the court deemed incontrovertible. Convinced by the prosecution’s case, Justice Oghoghorie sentenced Ita to seven years’ imprisonment.
Ita’s legal troubles began in 2019 when Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited filed a petition against her.
The petitioners, two directors of the companies, accused Ita of forging and fraudulently altering company documents, illegally removing the original directors. She allegedly claimed to be the second wife of the late Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita to assume control of the companies.
Further investigations revealed that Ita unlawfully appointed a new company secretary, changed the firms’ registered address, and manipulated share allotments.
One of the charges read: “That you, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita, on or about 6 November 2014, in Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make a forged document, namely FORM CAC 10 (ANNUAL RETURN FOR A SMALL COMPANY) in respect of Sharpnet Concept Limited, purportedly signed by Mrs Rose Orok Ita, with intent that it be acted upon as genuine, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(2)(C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria).”
Another charge stated that Ita took possession of N45 million paid by the University of Calabar for a project executed by ROK Projects Limited/Sharpnet Concept Limited, knowing it was proceeds of crime, thus violating Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
