Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced one Abdulrahman Lawal Raji to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding a petitioner of N26 million under the false pretence of supplying a 2022 model Toyota Hilux vehicle. Raji was arraigned on November 9, 2023, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on an amended two‑count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
According to the charge, the defendant and one Abdulrahman Lawal (still at large) between March 20 and March 21, 2023, in Lagos, obtained the sum of N26,000,000 from Olaide Ibidapo by falsely representing that the money was the purchase price for a Toyota Hilux 2022 car, a representation they knew to be false. Raji pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, called four witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence by the court. The defence called two witnesses in its own case. Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly. He sentenced Raji to 10 years imprisonment on count one and five years on count two, with no option of a fine on either count. The sentences are to run concurrently. The judge also ordered the restitution of the full N26,000,000 to the petitioner.
The case arose after the defendant collected N26 million from the petitioner for the purchase of a Toyota Hilux 2022 model. He neither delivered the vehicle nor refunded the money. The EFCC has consistently prosecuted cases of advance fee fraud and obtaining under false pretences, and this conviction serves as a warning to fraudsters that such crimes carry severe consequences.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News
🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew
📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments