From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja has sentenced a female property owner, Mercy Yusuf and her company, T.M. Properties Limited, to 24 years imprisonment for fraudulent activities.
Justice E. Okpe, sitting at the Nyanya division of the court sentenced the convict for fraudulently obtaining $298,000 and N40million from Bacab Properties Limited after claiming ownership of Plot 1721 Jahi District Cadastral Zone B08, Abuja.
She was on October 20, 2021, arraigned before the court on a four-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 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 the second defendant,T.M. Limited. Delivering judgment, Justice Okpe held that the prosecution proved the case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. They were found guilty on all the counts: 10 years imprisonment on counts one and two, and two 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 N41million to the nominal complainant.