Couple Sentenced to 16 Years for Fraud
A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (also known as Kristein Uyanwanne), alongside Temple International Church, for fraud. The ruling was handed down on Wednesday by Justice Mojisola Dada, who found the defendants guilty of multiple charges.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered that Temple International Church be deregistered and shut down for using the church and the name of God to deceive and defraud people.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed seven charges against the accused, including theft, fraudulent conversion, false representation, and other related offences.
When the couple was arraigned by the EFCC on February 25, 2020, they pleaded not guilty, prompting the start of a trial. The prosecution, led by Mr. Babatunde Sonoiki, presented five witnesses, while the defence called two witnesses.
Justice Dada concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the couple’s conviction.
Harry Uyanwanne was sentenced to three years in prison on count one, while he received a seven-year sentence on counts two to six. Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (a.k.a. Kristein Uyanwanne) was sentenced to three years on count one. Both were acquitted on the seventh count.
Uyanwanne received an additional 10-year sentence, while Odemuyiwa was handed a six-year term. The court ordered that both sentences be served concurrently.
In addition to their sentences, the judge mandated the couple to return N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The EFCC had accused the defendants of unlawfully converting N10 million in March 2016, which belonged to the late Mrs. Janet Adeola Odemuyiwa. The couple allegedly sold a property—Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government—worth N42 million to Mr. Kingsley Atere, falsely claiming that Uyanwanne was authorized by the legitimate owner to sell the property.
The charges against the couple contravened Section 1(2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, as well as Sections 278 and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria No. 11, 2011.