Nigerian Doctor Jailed for 7 Years Over ₦127M Fraud

A Nigerian court has sentenced a medical doctor to seven years imprisonment for defrauding victims of ₦127 million, highlighting financial crimes in the healthcare sector.

The Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita to seven years in prison after convicting her of fraud totaling more than N127 million.

Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie delivered the judgment after Ita’s trial on a 12-count charge filed by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement issued by the EFCC on Saturday, Ita faced charges related to forgery and misappropriation of funds amounting to N127,686,594.87. One of the charges stated:

Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita, on or around November 6th, 2014, in Calabar and within this Honorable Court’s jurisdiction, created a forged document: FORM CAC 10 (ANNUAL RETURN FOR A SMALL COMPANY) for SHARPNET CONCEPT LIMITED dated 06/11/2014. This form was falsely signed by Mrs. Rose Orok Ita (a Director of Sharpnet Concept Limited), with the intent to have it accepted as genuine. By doing so, you committed an offence under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 from the Revised Edition Law of Nigeria’s Federation and are subject to punishment under that same section.

Another charge alleged: “That you, Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita ‘F’, on or around February 14, 2019, in Calabar and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of Forty-Five Million Naira (₦45,000,000) through First Bank account number 2027011283 under the name Rok Projects Limited. This amount was paid by the University of Calabar for a project undertaken by ROK PROJECTS LIMITED/SHARPNET CONCEPT LIMITED; at that time you should reasonably have known that these funds were proceeds from criminal activity involving forgery. By doing so you committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act as amended in 2011 and punishable under Section 16(3).”

Although Ita pleaded not guilty, the prosecution team, headed by counsel Joshua Abolarin, presented numerous witnesses and substantial evidence. After examining the case details, Justice Oghoghorie determined that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, this led to Ita’s conviction and subsequent sentencing.

The case against Ita initiated after a 2019 petition was submitted to the EFCC by Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited. This petition, lodged by directors of both companies, accused Ita of document forgery, fraudulent modification of corporate records, and illegally ousting the original directors. She allegedly asserted that she was the second wife of Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita—who died in 2004—to legitimize her actions.

The petitioners further claimed that Ita appointed a new company secretary on November 6, 2014. Additionally, they alleged that he changed the companies’ registered address to No. 25, Uyo Street, off Market Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and conducted unauthorized re-allotments and share returns.