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A Calabar-based lawyer has received a 7-year imprisonment by a Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, over a failed land transaction.
The lawyer, Ezechi Okereke was convicted on a one-count charge, of obtaining money under false pretence, in suit number FHC/CA/CR/33/2015 between him and the Inspector General of Police, who is the complainant.
Justice I. E. Ekwo, the judge convicted Mr. Okereke and sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment with effect from the 8th of July, 2015.
He further ordered that the convict pay the sum of N2, 950, 000. 00 before his release from prison.
The judgment read in part: “In the one-count charge dated 8th July 2015, the allegation against the defendant is that with the intent to defraud, he obtained the sum of N3, 450, 000. 00 from Enwono Abasi Emmanuel Eyo by false pretences to enable him release allotment paper for a plot of land situate at Satellite Town Calabar allotted to him by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing Calabar, a representation he knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1 (a) (b) and 2, 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related (offences) Act Cap. D11 (Vol.2) LFN, 2006.
“On the whole, I find that the case of the prosecution has been proved beyond reasonable doubt and I so hold. I find the defendant guilty and I make an order convicting him as charged. The convict is sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with effect from 8th July 2015”, the judgment read.
