Five Sentenced to Seven Years for Defrauding Chi Limited

The Lagos State High Court in Tapa has sentenced five people to seven years in prison each. They defrauded Chi Limited of millions of naira.

Trial judge Kudirat Jose found Yinka Salawu, Joshua Oluremi Daramola, Raji Ahmed, Afolabi Israel Olusegun, and Muraina Olanrewaju Abdullahi guilty on three counts.

The judge also ordered them to repay Chi Limited the amounts set in the charges, after subtracting any money they had already returned.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted these five on six counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery.

This case dates back to 2009.

According to EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the defendants got money from Chi Limited for goods and services but did not deliver or refund anything.

One charge said they, along with others still at large, took N81,359,922 from Chi Limited in 2009. They falsely claimed this money was for goods and services supplied to the company.

The prosecution stated that this act violated Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Chi Limited is known for products like Chivita and Hollandia, among others.

The prosecution presented 17 witnesses, including EFCC officials, police, bank representatives, and staff from Chi Limited.

They also submitted documents to back their case in court.

In her judgment, Ms Jose found the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh defendants guilty on counts one, two, and three.

She discharged and acquitted the second, third, and eighth defendants.

After the convictions, prosecution lawyer M.S. Owede asked the court to order the convicts to repay Chi Limited under Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

The prosecution noted that N117,755,061 was involved in counts two and three.

Mr Owede also requested the court to sell properties belonging to the first convict and give the money to Chi Limited. Alternatively, he asked the court to forfeit those properties to the company.

Mrs Jose sentenced each of the five convicts to seven years in prison without an option of a fine.

She ruled that the time each convict spent in custody would count towards their sentence.

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

The judge also ordered the convicts to restitute Chi Limited under Section 297 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

"All monies already paid shall be deducted from the amounts to be restituted," she said.