Crime
Woman Jailed 24 Years For $298,000, N48m Property Fraud
EFCC prosecutors called six witnesses and tendered 14 documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
A federal high court sitting in Abuja has sentenced one Mercy Yusuf to 24 years in prison for $298,000, ₦40 million property fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 20, 2021, arraigned Yusuf on a four counts charge on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and using false documents as genuine.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the commencement of trial on February 1, 2022.
EFCC prosecutors called six witnesses and tendered 14 documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
The defendants opened their defence on November 1, 2022, with Yusuf testifying on behalf of herself and T.M. Limited.
Delivering judgment, Justice Okpe held that the prosecution proved the case against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
They were found guilty on all the counts: 10 years imprisonment on counts one and two, and 2 years imprisonment on counts three and four to run concurrently.
The court further ordered the convicts to make restitution in the sum of $298,000 and N41 million to the nominal complainant.