Man bags 15-year jail term for N26m fraud

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday sentenced a man, Abdulrahman Raji, to 15 years imprisonment for a N26 million car fraud. Justice Ismail Ijelu held that the prosecution proved the charges of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence against the convict beyond reasonable doubt. Ijelu stated that Raji falsely presented himself as a Customs […]

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday sentenced a man, Abdulrahman Raji, to 15 years imprisonment for a N26 million car fraud.
Justice Ismail Ijelu held that the prosecution proved the charges of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.
Ijelu stated that Raji falsely presented himself as a Customs officer to obtain the money from the complainant, Mr Olaide Ibidapo.
He said the convict claimed that the funds were meant for the purchase of an auctioned Toyota Hilux vehicle from the Customs office, a representation he knew to be false. (NAN)

Consequently, the judge found Raji guilty and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on count one without an option of fine.

The court further sentenced him to five years imprisonment on count two, also without an option of fine.

Ijelu ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

He also directed the convict to make restitution of N26 million to the nominal complainant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Raji on Nov. 9, 2023.

Raji pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to a full trial.

During the trial, EFCC counsel, Mr Ebuka Okongwu, called four witnesses and tendered several documents, which were admitted in evidence.

The defence called two witnesses.

The prosecution proved that the convict and another person, now at large, defrauded the complainant between March 20 and March 21, 2023.

According to the prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. (NAN)