The Lagos State High Court in Tapa, on Thursday sentenced five persons to seven years in prison each for defrauding a company, Chi Limited, of millions of naira.
Trial judge Kudirat Jose convicted Yinka Salawu, Joshua Oluremi Daramola, Raji Ahmed, Afolabi Israel Olusegun and Muraina Olanrewaju Abdullahi after finding them guilty on three counts.
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The judge also ordered the five convicts to repay Chi Limited the amounts established in the charges, after deducting any money they had already paid to the company.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the defendants on a six counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
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The case dates back to 2009.
According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Friday, the defendants obtained money from Chi Limited for the supply of goods and services but failed to deliver or refund the money.
One of the charges alleged that the defendants, together with others still at large, obtained N81,359,922 from the company in 2009 after falsely representing that the money was payment for goods and services supplied to Chi Limited.
The prosecution said the offence contravened Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Chi Limited is the maker of Chivita and Hollandia, among other food and beverage products.
How the trial went
The prosecution called 17 witnesses, including officials of the EFCC, the police, banks and Chi Limited.
It also tendered documents before the court in support of its case.
In the judgement, Ms Jose found the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh defendants guilty on counts one, two and three.
She discharged and acquitted the second, third and eighth defendants.
After the convictions, the prosecution lawyer, M.S. Owede, asked the court to order the convicts to repay Chi Limited under Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
The prosecution stated that N117,755,061 was involved in counts two and three.
Mr Owede also asked the court to order the sale of properties belonging to the first convict and pay the proceeds to Chi Limited. He alternatively asked the court to forfeit the properties to the company.
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Seven years in prison
Mrs Jose sentenced each of the five convicts to seven years in prison without an option of a fine.
She ruled that the period each convict had already spent in custody would count towards the sentence.
“All periods spent in prison shall be deducted from the seven-year terms imposed by the court,” she declared.
The judge also ordered the convicts to restitute Chi Limited under Section 297 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
“All monies already paid shall be deducted from the amounts to be restituted,” she said.
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