A Nigerian man facing his third deportation order from Canada pleaded guilty to eight fraud-related charges in an Edmonton court this week, adding to his already lengthy criminal record in Canada.
Frank Ejira Otoroh, 39, will be deported immediately after completing two jail terms for his latest frauds and for entering Canada without authorization.
It will be the third time Otoroh has been removed from this country.
He was sent to Nigeria in 2006 and 2007 but somehow made his way back to Canada, where his wife lives.
Otoroh’s latest charges stem from two incidents at Edmonton-area banks this spring.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Otoroh entered one branch on March 17 and asked for an $1,800 cash advance. He provided a driver’s licence and MasterCard, both in the name of Mohammad Alam. He got the money, but authorities later determined the licence and credit card were forged.
Otoroh tried to pull the same scam at another branch one week later, this time using a driver’s licence, social insurance number and credit card under the name of Bruno Bugini.
Staff, however, had been warned about Otoroh. The teller recognized him and tried to delay him while police were called.
He fled the bank, but police arrested him soon afterward.
He initially faced 140 fraud-related charges and police linked him to an alleged fraud ring where credit card bills from multiple names were being sent to the same UPS mailbox.
Provincial court Judge Harry Bridges agreed to a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers to sentence Otoroh to six months in jail, minus 4 1/2 months for time he has served in custody.
Otoroh is also serving a one-year jail sentence after pleading guilty in June to entering Canada without authorization.
“I think it’s in everyone’s interest that he be returned to Nigeria,” said defence lawyer Peter Royal.
According to court documents, Otoroh was convicted of fraud over $5,000 in 2003 in Ontario and was ordered deported from the country. He was a permanent resident at the time and lost that status as a result of the criminal conviction.
But he failed to report for deportation. Two years later, authorities found him in Calgary where he was convicted of counterfeiting charges and he was removed from Canada.
About six months after his deportation, Otoroh tried to enter Canada using a fake Canadian passport. He was convicted of several counts, including impersonation, and was sentenced to nine months in jail. He was deported again in May 2007.
Somehow, Otoroh made his way back into Canada, although it’s not known where or how he managed to do so.
“Well”its quite a prethy pithy that some stupid brigands from Nigeria is painting the image of our beloved country black as we,least could imagine.
I apologise unbehalf of my beloved country people home and in diaspora to the canadian authority for such unspeakable acts from this brigand and request that he should be given atleat 20years in prisonment that other notorious bandicts in his category will learn their lessons without hesitation.
Canadian authority should go out of law to courtmarshal criminals whose intents are to destroy the peacefulness and condusive terain of her country as the most calm and peaceful place to duel on earth.
We,condemn his nepherous acts and stand by the authority in charge to jail this guy for atleast 20years with hard labour.
He is a witch,and the bible asked us to suffer no witch to live.
He has acted like a terror and should be treated like one.How could he be facing charges and repertrations for just a token of 1800 and 5000 dolars what a cheap temptation.
He is Messing his life up and denting the image of my country Nigeria for a plate poridge and a token of change.cheap idiot like him.Nigeria immigration has prepered a perment rest room for u in kirikiri maximum prison.ANUOFIA MMADU.ALACHIKWAGI UNYI THERE.
Long live Nigeria,long live canadians,love live to ur peaceful and hospitality to all race.God bless u all.