Alleged fraud: Lagos couple bags 14 years, ordered to repay over N67m
A couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia (a.k.a Kristein Uyanwanne) were on Monday sentenced to a fourteen- year imprisonment each for N67,659,592 (Sixty-Seven Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira) fraud in Lagos.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja who convicted and sentenced the couple also ordered a full restitution of the N67, 659, 592 to the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
One of the counts reads : “Kemi Odia and Harry Uyanwanne (a.k.a Ben Ololorma) sometime in 2010 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court by false pretence and intent to defraud sold the property known as N0 19 Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo Lagos to one Harry Dyawanne for the sum of Sixteen Million Naira N16.000,0O0.00) on the false pretence representation that you were authorized to sell the property by the Bonalde Beneficiaries of the Estate of Late Dr Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa which representation you knew was false”.
The convicts were jailed on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1.
They were however discharged of the fourth count charge bordering on forgery.
At their arraignment, they pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution counsel, Fadeke Giwa commenced trial, she called three witnesses and tendered several documents while defence called only one witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Dada held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found both defendants guilty.
On count one, Justice Dada convicted and sentenced the duo to three years imprisonment, on count two- stealing to one year, on count three- obtaining money by false pretence to 10 years (without option of fine) while on count four, forgery, they were discharged.
The judge also ordered that the first defendant’s sentence be suspended until apprehended.
The prosecution had alleged that sometime in 2010, the duo conspired and dishonestly stole the property of Beneficiaries of the Estate of late Dr. Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
Also, the defendants with false intent to defraud, allegedly sold the property known as Plot 19, Muritala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo Lagos to one Harry Uyanwanne( the convict) for the sum of Sixteen Million Naira on the false presentation that the first defendant was authorised to sell the property by the bonafide beneficiaries of the Estate of late Dr. Moshood Odemuyiwa, which representation he knew was false.
