By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Abdulrahman Lawal Raji to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding a businessman of N26 million in a failed Toyota Hilux vehicle transaction.
Justice Ismail Ijelu handed down the sentence on Tuesday after finding Raji guilty of obtaining money by false pretence in a case prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court also ordered the convict to refund the N26 million he collected from the victim, Olaide Ibidapo.
According to the EFCC, Raji fraudulently obtained the money in March 2023 by claiming it was the purchase price for a 2022 Toyota Hilux vehicle. However, he neither supplied the vehicle nor returned the money.
One of the charges against him stated that he and another suspect still at large obtained the sum of N26 million from the complainant by falsely representing that the money was meant for the purchase of the vehicle.
Raji pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before the court on November 9, 2023, leading to a full trial.
During the proceedings, EFCC prosecutor Ebuka Okongwu called four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted as exhibits. The defence, on its part, called two witnesses.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant on both counts.
The judge sentenced Raji to 10 years imprisonment on the first count and five years on the second count, with no option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The conviction brings to an end a case that stemmed from a vehicle purchase deal in which the victim lost N26 million after the promised Toyota Hilux was never delivered.
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