The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 14 years’ imprisonment each over a property fraud involving N67.6 million.
Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the judgment on Monday after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The court also ordered the convicts to make full restitution of N67,659,592 to the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
The conviction followed a prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, which accused the couple of fraudulently dealing with property belonging to the estate of the late Dr Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa.
According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired in 2010 to dishonestly appropriate property belonging to the beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate.
The disputed property, located at No. 19 Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Lagos, was allegedly sold for N16 million through false representations concerning the authority to dispose of it.
The EFCC maintained that the defendants falsely claimed to have obtained permission from the legitimate beneficiaries of the estate to sell the property.
The alleged transaction formed part of the charges brought against the couple under the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
At their arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting the commencement of a full trial.
Prosecution counsel Fadeke Giwa subsequently called three witnesses and presented documentary evidence to establish the allegations.
The defence, however, called one witness in its attempt to challenge the prosecution’s case.
After reviewing the evidence and submissions, Justice Dada ruled that the EFCC had established the offences of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge consequently sentenced each defendant to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, one year for stealing and 10 years for obtaining money by false pretence.
The 10-year sentence was imposed without an option of fine.
However, the court discharged the defendants on the fourth count, which bordered on forgery, after considering the evidence presented.
The judgment also contained an order suspending the first defendant’s sentence until apprehension.
In addition to the custodial sentences, the court directed the convicts to refund the entire N67,659,592 to Odemuyiwa.
The restitution order seeks to recover the funds involved in the fraudulent transaction for the petitioner.
The ruling concludes the trial arising from the disputed property transaction, which dates back to 2010.
The case highlights the legal consequences of fraudulently disposing of estate property without authorisation from its legitimate beneficiaries, with the court imposing custodial penalties alongside financial restitution.
Ezeana Emmanuel
