Five sentenced to seven years and ordered to repay N117.7 million to company

Five people convicted of defrauding Chi Limited will spend seven years in prison each and must repay the company N117.7 million, after a case that began in 2009 finally reached judgment.

Justice Kudirat Jose of the Lagos State High Court in Tapa convicted Yinka Salawu, Joshua Oluremi Daramola, Raji Ahmed, Afolabi Israel Olusegun and Muraina Olanrewaju Abdullahi on three counts. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had prosecuted them on six counts involving conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.

“

All periods spent in prison shall be deducted from the seven-year terms imposed by the court.

The prosecution said the defendants obtained money from Chi Limited for goods and services but failed to deliver them or return the funds. One charge alleged that they took N81,359,922 in 2009 after falsely claiming the money covered goods and services supplied to the company. The prosecution called 17 witnesses, including EFCC, police, bank and Chi Limited officials, and submitted documents to support its case.

The judge acquitted the second, third and eighth defendants and found the five others guilty on counts one, two and three. Prosecutor M.S. Owede asked the court to order restitution under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and to sell or forfeit property belonging to the first convict for Chi Limited's benefit. Justice Jose ordered the five convicts to repay the amounts established in the charges, after deducting any money already paid. “All periods spent in prison shall be deducted from the seven-year terms imposed by the court,” she declared. Chi Limited makes Chivita and Hollandia products, among others.

“

All monies already paid shall be deducted from the amounts to be restituted.