Woman sentenced to 24 years in prison in Abuja for property fraud involving $298,000, N48 million
Mercy Yusuf, the owner of the property, and her company, T.M. Properties Limited, were found guilty and given sentences by Justice E. Okpe of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya in Abuja.
After claiming ownership of Plot 1721 Jahi District Cadastral Zone B08, Abuja, she obtained $298,000 and N40 million from Bacab Properties Limited fraudulently and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.
On October 20, 2021, Yusuf was charged with four counts of obtaining money through false pretenses, forgery, and using fake documents as genuine by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC.
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The trial was set to start on February 1, 2022, after the defendants entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.
Six witnesses were called by EFCC prosecutors, who also presented 14 documents that were accepted as exhibits.
On November 1, 2022, the defendants presented their case, and Yusuf testified on behalf of the second T.M. Limited and herself.
Justice Okpe declared in his ruling that the prosecution had established its case against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.
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They were found guilty on every count, which resulted in sentences of 10 years in prison on counts one and two and concurrent sentences of 2 years in prison on counts three and four.
The court further mandated that the convicted parties pay N41 million ($298,000) in restitution to the nominal complainant.
