Abia born international business man, Chief Onwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley, has hailed the Nigerian judiciary for vindicating him of charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Kingsley, who is popularly known as 'Nwatanayoeze' said the judiciary still remains the last hope for the common man to get justice.
The EFCC had charged Kingsley, before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 8 counts charge on an alleged conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence on May 11, 2020.
However while delivering judgement on the case with suit number FHC/PH/40C/2020 on Friday February 11, 2022, Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, ruled that the EFCC could not prove a case of advanced fee fraud against Kingsley beyond reasonable doubt.
"The judge stated, "After a careful consideration of the evidences and exhibits before the court, particularly the FBI letter dated January 29, 2020 and the necessary elements of the allegations in Court (1-8).
"I am of the view that there is no prima-facie evidence to warrant the court to other the defendant to enter defence. I so hold.
"Consequent upon my findings I find the defendant not guilty and he is hereby discharged".
Narrating his ordeal to our correspondent, Kingsley said the EFCC operatives came to his house without any invitation on January 26, 2020 through the fence to arrest him.
He said, "It was on Sunday morning around 4 AM that my wife sent me a text that the EFCC operatives were in our house. I came back and they took me to their Port Harcourt zonal office.
"On getting to their office, they showed me a picture of myself and family and asked if I'm the one and I asked them of my offense, but they showed me a letter they wrote to the Commissioner of Police asking him to allow them to investigate a Yahoo boy in Umuahia. I wondered why a man of my age will addressed as a Yahoo boy.
"As at the time the CP granted their request I was still in Turkey where I went to buy goods because I deal on furniture. I'm the CEO of Nwatanayoeze oil and gas and Arch Angel top spa clinic. I have upto ten foreigners working for me and I pay them.
"The EFCC were forcing me to make statement, I made a statement before they allowed me to go for check up because I became very sick that I couldn't bear it anymore, and told them that health is wealth and to treat myself.
"At a time, they said I will be taken to the Federal Medical centre umuahia, but they brought me to my house and searched everywhere, my filling station and my house in the village and they found Nothing.
"They took me back to Port Harcourt to be detained again but insisted that I will not enter the cell again, then their zonal head asked them to take me to the police clinic, whery they confirmed that I was down before they released me on administrative conditions. Then I went for treatment at a military hospital.
"They blocked my account and I went to them severally telling me to unblock my account to enable me to withdraw money to treat my brother in-law that was sick but they refused until he passed on, before they opened the account.
"They were telling me to accept plea bargain, but I insisted that I will fight to prove my innocence than to accept what I did not do.
"I was finally taken to Court, I was afraid at the first instance, because it was a case between me and Federal Government of Nigeria. It was their judge and I could be sentenced to prison. But I went there and what I thought was not what happened.
"All thanks to the judge court five because he didn't discreminate or sided any party in the case. I give God the glory that I was vindicated at the end.
"They said that I defrauded an Egyptian man of 6.5 million dollars and that I defrauded an Italian woman of 1.5 million dollars they were no proofs to those accusations.
"My advice to our youths is they should not be afraid of going to court if they know they are innocent. The judiciary is the last hope of the common man, if I can be vindicated any other person can get justice too. The judge said the defendant is not guilty, he is discharged and acquitted".
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