A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a medical doctor, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita, to seven years in prison for fraud.

Justice Rosemary Oghogho-rie, delivering her judgment, convicted Ita, saying that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Uyo Directorate, prosecuted Ita on a 12-count charge relating to forgery and the diversion of N127,686,594.

One of the charges stated: “That you, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita ‘F’ on or about November 6, 2014, in Calabar, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make a forged document to wit: FORM CAC 10 (ANNUAL RETURN FOR A SMALL COMPANY) IN RESPECT OF SHARPNET CONCEPT LIMITED DATED 06/11/2014, purported to have been signed by Mrs. Rose Orok Ita (a Director in Sharpnet Concept Limited), with the intent that the document may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M 17 of the Revised Edition (Law of the Federation of Nigeria) and Punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of the same Act.”

Ita pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to a trial that began in 2019.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin, called witnesses and presented evidence.

The case originated from a petition submitted to the EFCC in 2019 by Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited.

Two directors of the companies alleged that Ita had “forged and fraudulently altered” company documents, removing the original directors and falsely claiming to be the second wife of Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita, who passed away in 2004.

According to the EFCC, the petitioners further alleged that Ita not only manipulated the records, but also appointed a new company secretary on November 6, 2014, changed the registered address of the companies, and carried out re-allotments and returns of share allotments in her favour.