Ladipo Sanusi/
An Igbosere High Court, Lagos today jailed a man for 1,230 years for N28 million fraud.
The convict, Babatunde Habeeb, was found guilty of duping 101 victims under the pretence of helping them secure accommodation.
His victims included a 69-year old retiree, Mrs. Mariam Eboigbe, who lost N400,000 to the fraud.
The convict was charged with 82 counts amended charge dated 15 of December 2015 bordering on conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was accused of conspiring with his elder brother, Alahaji Ishola Salawudeen, who is still at large, to commit the crime.
The pair committed the crime sometime in 2013 at 59 Oriola Street, in Alapere, Lagos.
The were both originally charged with the offence at an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court in 2013. The elder brother was later granted bail, but jumped bail.
The convict, who was arrested in Mushin area of Lagos after he absconded, told the court during his trial he was warned by his elder brother not to tell the victims that the 13 apartments they paid for had already been given out.
He also admitted collecting various sums from the victims, some of which were paid directly to him and some into his bank account.
The prosecutor, Mr Ben Ubi, had earlier told the court the offences contravened Sections 1(1) and 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2004.
The convict’s lawyer however pleaded with the judge for leniency
He said: “The defendant is still a young man and his detention in prison custody has taught him a bitter lesson that there is no gain in crime. He is a married man with a child to cater for. We plead with the court to temper justice with mercy.”
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on the first count of conspiracy and 15 years each on counts two to 82.
The judge however said that the sentence should run concurrently, starting from March 12, 2014, when he was arrested by the EFCC.
She also ordered the forfeiture of the property at 59 Oriola Street, in Alapere, Lagos, to the Federal Government.
She said the property should be sold to refund the the victims’ money.
While delivering judgment, Justice Ipaye noted: “The defendants were motivated by greed. They set out to con the victims out of their hard earn resources. I am satisfied that the convict and his brother acted together in the scam.
“Considering the prevalence of the crime in the society, there is a need to send a signal, as crimes like this portray Nigeria in a bad light.”
“From the overwhelming evidences and testimonies before the court, it is clear that it was a delibrate ploy to defraud the prospective tenants.
“The prosecution has been able to prove it’s case beyond reasonable doubt and I resolves all the issues in the favour of the prosecution.”
“The property is hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The property should be sold and the N28 million refunded to the victims,” she added.
Some of the victims who were in court when the judgment was delivered could not contain their emotions as they ran out of the courtroom shouting for joy.
0