SHOCKER: A MEGA FRAUD STAR, ALEXANDER JOSEPH SENTENCE TO 355 YEARS IN IMPRISONMENT FOR DEFRAUDING 30 MILLION NAIRA

by Blessed Jatt

Alexander Umaru Joseph

A daredevil fraud star who defrauded over 50 persons of over 30million naira has been sentenced to 355 years in prison by a Federal High Court, Asaba division.

Alexander Umaru Joseph, a die-hard criminal and fraud star came to Asaba the delta State capital were he established a pretentious business by the name “moon Light venture” where he was purportedly supposed to be selling recharge card as a major distributor, A platform he used in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public after operating for just six months.

Luck however ran out of him when some of his victims got wind of his intention to escape and alerted the Delta State police command, which swiftly move in and arrested him while attempting to flee the state. On interrogation, he was found with three different driver’s license all bearing different names. Investigation also reveals that he had previously operated in three other states where he had also defrauded several unsuspecting victims in collaboration with his wife now at large. Silent News and Trends gathered that he had previously jumped bail in one of the state he operated before he fled to Asaba.

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While narrating their ordeal, Madam Uju Obiora who lost 5.6 million to the fraud star said that he (Alexander Joseph) told his customers that he had been given license from MTN to start the printing of recharge cards and that he needed some distributors hence those of them who could afford it should bulk buy. That was how she gave him five million and six hundred thousand Naira cash expecting to get the supply as promise but that she waited to no avail. She then demanded a refund of her money only to later discover that the fraud star was planning to relocate from the state. She then alerted the police who arrested the culprit at the motor park trying to flee the state on a commercial bus having sold his car and locked up the office.

Mr. Kingsley Oseyi Jatt who operates a financial service institution and a dealer in recharge card also lost 1.5 million naira to the fraud star. He collaborated the earlier account of Madam Uju Obiora thus. “His (Moonlight Venture) recharge card was the cheapest in the entire state thus he had lots of patronage. He would sell at a reduced price as a way of luring his victims; little did we know that he was buying on credit from one Delight venture only to resell to his customers. He later told us that he had found a new way of printing recharge card that he want us to invest more by bulk buying to enable him raise capital to kick start the printing. The total amount he defrauded was over 30 million from about fifty persons, even though only 22 Million Naira was captured in the police charge sheet.

Silent News and Trends gathered that the said Alexander issued a dud cheque of two million naira to one of his victims Miss Ezinne Kalu and seven hundred thousand to Delight N. Charlse the two persons he was buying from, only to resell to his customers at a cheaper price before his attempted escape.

Upon the expert advice of the Department of Public Prosecution, Alexander Joseph was charge to court on a 38-count charge to which he initially pleaded not guilty before Honourable Justice Olatoregun-Isola J on October 20, 2015. Following the redeployment of Judges, He was re-arraigned on the 4^th of March 2016 before Honourable Justice A.O Faji were he changed his plea and pleaded guilty to count 1-35 and 38.

In her judgment, on Charge No: FHC/ASB/26C/15, Hon. Justice A.O Faji ruled thus,

“You have abused a position of trust as all the people defrauded were people you had known for some time and done business with. You also carried out a significant plan, hoodwinking at least 35 people in the process. You were clearly motivated by substantial financial gain and you got well over N22, 000, 000, 00 (Twenty two Million Naira),

There is also serious harm. Your conduct has had serious detrimental effect on 35 people who gave you money for recharge cards with the intention of selling them at a profit. Who knows, they probably borrowed the money but in any event have lost some of the capital for their business. One person lost N5, 000, 000, 00. Another N4, 000, 000, 00. That has resulted in the actual loss of these persons….and the law requires that I must not impose the maximum sentence of 20 years but must in sentencing you aim at rehabilitating you….in this circumstance, I think a custodial sentence of 10 years will be appropriate….this sentence applies in respect of count 1-35 they shall run concurrently. You cannot outlive a consecutive 10-year sentence in 35 places. that is equivalent to a sentence of death….your 10 year sentence shall therefore commence on the 20^th of October 2015 in respect of Counts 1-35. As regard Count 38.…I think a penalty of 5 years is sufficient under this head. This shall run concurrently with your 10-year term under count 1-35.

I therefore hereby sentence you Joseph Alexander to a term of 10 years in respect of each count 1-35. I also hereby sentence you Joseph Alexander to a term of 5 years in respect of Count 38.

In addition to the custodial sentence imposed on you, you shall make restitution or pay compensation to your victims to the tune of the amount defrauded.”

However, Silent news and Trends have gathered that the victim have been unable to access the said compensation from the fraud star due to financial constrain to pursue justice to the apex.

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