From Emmanuel Onwusoro, Ado-Ekiti
An Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced one Nurudeen Ibrahim to five years imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy, false pretence with intent to defraud and indecent assault.
The 58-year-old was arraigned before the court on 2/8/2022 on three count charge.
The charge reads that the “defendant and others now at large in the month of September, 2019 in Aramoko Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State did conspire to commit felony, to wit; felony, also did under false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained N10.4M from one Yinka and as well indecently assaulted the complainant”.
The offences according to the prosecutor are punishable under Sections 516, 419, and 353 of the Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.
The victim in her testimony before the court said, “I am a businesswoman based in Lagos, I have partnership with various big companies, sometime in September, 2019, I had problems with my business, I told my father who resides in Aramoko-Ekiti, he asked me to come home, I initially adamant to come but when the problem persisted, I came to Ekiti, my father took me to the defendant whom I later knew to be a herbalist.
“Thereafter, I discovered he had used charm on me, he was collecting my money in pretence of finding solution to my problems, he slept with me severally, I have sold my cars and house among others to the tune of N10.4 million which he collected from me, he collected some of my personal belongings and gave to his wife, I bought a car for him from the proceeds of my sold properties with evidence.
“When I became seriously sick, I begged him to please give me part of the money to take care of myself but he refused, instead he was threatening me not to tell anybody what transpired between us and that if I do, is either I die or run mad”.
To prove his case, the prosecutor, Inspector Elijah Adejare, called seven witnesses and tendered statements of the victim and that of the defendant, statements of account of the victim, photographs of the victim on the sick bed, fetish materials, Toyota Camry car among others as exhibits.
The defendant spoke in his own defence through his counsel, Barr. Busuyi Ayorinde, denying some of the allegations, but admitted to having obtained N8 milliin from the victim, calling a lone witness in addition.
Delivering Judgment, Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola said, “I found the defendant not guilty for offence of conspiracy, he is discharged and acquitted, however, he is found guilty for offence of false pretence to defraud and convicted accordingly.
“He is hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour or an option of restitution in the sum of N8 million being the amount the convict admitted to have obtained from the victim which the court has found to be under false pretence in lieu of imprisonment, while the Toyota Camry Car which was found to be proceed of crime is empowered by Section 296 (b) of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2014 to order that it be applied as part of the sum of N8 million due to the complainant and I so hold,” the Magistrate decided.
