Justice Olubunmi Abike Fadipe of the Lagos Special Offenses Court in Ikeja has sentenced a car dealer, Lasaki Wasiu Adeyaga, to seven years in prison for a N24 million fraud.
Justice Abike Fadipe found Mr Adeyaga guilty of two charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Anti-corruption authorities charged Adeiga in court with defrauding businessman Ahmed Garba Shinkafi, claiming the amount was the price of two Lexus GX 460s.
According to the indictment information, the convict, Lasaki Wasiu Adeyaga, in Lagos during the month of September 2020, with intent to defraud, transferred the said amount to his own use without providing him with a Lexus Jeep. Appropriated.
Offenses punishable by Section 1(a) and (3) of the Advance Payment Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act No. 14 of 2006.
However, Adeiga pleaded not guilty to the two counts when they were read aloud during his arraignment.
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The EFCC then called four witnesses to prove the allegations.
Justice Olubunmi Abike Fadipe, who handed down the sentence, found him guilty as per the indictment.
The convict’s lawyer, BA Modu, begged for mercy and urged the court to give the first-time offender the option of a fine.
In response, Mr. Babatunde Sonoiki and Mr. Samuel Daji, representing the EFCC, urged the court to sentence him in accordance with the provisions of the law.
After accepting submissions from his lawyers, the judge sentenced him to seven years in prison for the first charge and two years in prison for the second charge.
However, Judge Abike Fadipe ordered that the sentences be served concurrently and that the money be returned to the victim.
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