News
Nigeria Businessman ‘Invictus’ Obinwanne Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud In US — To Spend 20 Years In Prison
Nigerian businessman Obinwanne Okeke, better known as Invictus, has pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud brought against him by US authorities.
It would be recalled that Obinwanne accepted to enter plea bargain for reduced jail term after an initial denial of wrongdoing to charges of wire and computer fraud.
Consequently, A Senior United States District Judge, Rebecca Smith, gave an order approving the plea bargain hearing, which has been set for June 18 at the Norfork Magistrate Courtroom 1, Arkansas, US.
“The Court has been advised that the defendant wishes to enter a plea of guilty,” Judge Smith said in her Order of April 24. “A United States Magistrate Judge is hereby authorised, with the consent of the defendant, to conduct the proceedings required by the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 incident to the making of the plea.”
Judge Smith added that: “If, after conducting such proceedings, the Magistrate Judge accepts the plea of guilty and the associated plea agreement, a presentence investigation shall be conducted and a report shall be prepared pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32, and a sentencing data shall be scheduled.
“If the plea of guilty is accepted, the District Judge will adjudicate guilt and will determine and impose a sentence.”
Obinwanne, owner of Invictus Group pleaded guilty to $11 million (N4.2 billion) fraud.
Okeke, 32, confessed to American prosecutors that he was involved in computer-based fraud between 2015 and 2019.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, Okeke could spend 20 years maximum penalty in an American jail.
He would be sentenced on October 22, the newspaper quoted Joshua Stueve, a spokesperson for the United States District Court for Eastern District of Virginia, to have said.
“A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors,” the court official said.
Robert Krask, an American judge of the district, certified the guilty plea on Thursday morning to clear the paths for Mr Okeke’s sentencing.
Okeke and other alleged conspirators said to still be at large were accused of targeting American businesses in a probe led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Obinwanne, who was arraigned August 9 2019, had filed a preliminary objection December 15, challenging the jurisdiction of US authorities to charge him for an offence not committed on American soil.
The objection also stated that no American company was involved in the alleged fraud, and that evidence against the defendant should be discountenanced as it was purportedly obtained under duress.
The prosecution argued otherwise to all the objections, stating that Americans were affected in the fraud and that evidence was lawfully obtained. Both parties had later agreed to the continuation of proceedings when Obinwanne signaled willingness for a plea bargain.
The two-count charge of computer and wire fraud carries a maximum of 10 and 20 years sentence respectively.
US authorities say Obinwanne defrauded the UK office of Unatract of up to $11 million.
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