Azeez Folorunso/

A Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere, Lagos Island, has sentenced an Indian national, Mr. Sandeep Gogia to 22 years imprisonment for defrauding a telecommunication firm, Boars Communication Limited of $250,000.

The judge sentenced the convict after he was found guilty on the fraud charge brought against him and his company, Eastern Metal Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft commission, through lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Kayode Oni, arraigned him alongside the company on a 3-count charge and he pleaded not guilty.

The anti-graft commission alleged that Gogia with one Mr. Arun Goswani who is at large defrauded by obtaining the sum of 250,000 US dollars from Boars Communication Limited under the pretence of having naira equivalent of the amount.

Grocia was said to have committed the offence whilst being the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of Eastern Metal Limited sometimes on July 2015.

The judge found him guilty of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and freed him on allegation of stealing.

Justice Lawal-Akapo,  thereafter,  sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy and 15 years on second-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

The sentence would run concurrently from October 25, 2018.

The judge however freed him on the third count charge of stealing, and ordered him to pay restitution of N59,750 million to the victim.

He ordered the second defendant, Eastern Metals Limited, to “be wind up and its asset be forfeited to the Federal government”.
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By Dipo

Dipo Kehinde is an accomplished Nigerian journalist, artist, and designer with over 34 years experience. More info on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipo-kehinde-8aa98926

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