A Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted and sentenced Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita to seven years in prison for forgery and diversion of funds.
Dr. Ita was prosecuted by the Uyo Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge, bordering on forgery and diversion of funds to the tune of ₦127,686,594.87.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Dr. Geraldine Orok Ita, on or about November 6, 2014, in Calabar, did make a forged document… with the intent that the document may be acted upon as genuine.”
Another charge read: “That you, Dr Geraldine Orok Ita, did take possession of the sum of Forty- Five Million Naira domiciled in First Bank with Account Name: Rok Projects Limited, paid by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) when you reasonably ought to know that the money was part of the proceeds of crime to wit: forgery and thereby committed an offence“
The EFCC alleged that Dr. Ita forged documents to remove two initial directors from Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited, and claimed to be the second wife of the late Engr. Orok Okonkon Ita.
The prosecution presented evidence, compelling Justice Rosemary Oghogho-rie to convict Dr. Ita, sentencing her to seven years in prison.
Dr. Ita’s journey to the Nigeria Correctional Centre began in 2019 when the EFCC received a petition from Sharpnet Concept Limited and ROK Project Limited, alleging forgery and fraudulent alterations.
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