Fraud convict collapses in court before sentencing

Adaoha Ugo-Ndagi, a convicted fuel subsidy fraudster, on Friday collapsed in court before she was sentenced.

Ugo-Ndagi, managing director of Ontario Oil and Gas, and Walter Wagbatsoma, an oil marketer, were convicted of eight counts of fraud.

The duo forged documents to receive N1.9bn from the government for petroleum products they did not supply.

Delivering her judgment, Lateefat Okunnu, justice of the Lagos state high court, Ikeja, held that the defendants deliberately forged documents to swindle the government.

“On strength of the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and the volumes of material evidence, I hereby find the defendants guilty on all counts, and they are hereby convicted,” she held.

When the proceedings resumed after a break, the judge moved to sentence the convicts, but Ugo-Ndagi passed out in the dock.

She then adjourned the case to January 16 for sentencing.

Udo-Ndagi was later taken to a hospital.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges of fraud against the convicts in 2012.

Meanwhile, Wagbatsoma is under house arrest in the United Kingdom, where he is facing charges of fraud.