From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja sentenced Ajanaku Oluwatomilola to three years in prison on Thursday, May 15, for a N14.5 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 re-arraigned her on April 14 on six counts, including stealing and obtaining money by false pretences.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said Ajanaku received N14.5 million in 2021 as investment capital, promising returns over three months. She stopped payments after two months.
“That you, Ajanaku Oluwatomilola, trading under the name and style of Yenniegoldie Signature, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, stole and dishonestly converted to your own, the sum of N5 million,” one count read.
Ajanaku pleaded not guilty, leading to a trial with four witnesses, including EFCC officer Christopher Ameh. Her counsel, O. Ajanaku, sought leniency, stating, “The convict is a first-time offender and he is remorseful.”
Justice Okunuga convicted her on three stealing counts, ordering N6 million in restitution, but discharged her on other charges.