The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (also known as Kristein Uyanwanne), to a combined total of 16 years in prison for stealing N52 million.
Justice Mojisola Dada sentenced the couple, along with Temple International Church, which was also implicated in the case.
The judge also ordered the deregistration and closure of Temple International Church for using the name of God and the church to defraud people.
In her judgment, Justice Dada found all three defendants guilty of seven counts brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The couple was arraigned on February 25, 2020, pleading not guilty at the time, and the trial proceeded.
During the trial, prosecution counsel Babatunde Sonoiki called five witnesses, while the defense counsel presented two witnesses.
Justice Dada ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction of both defendants.
For count one, the couple was sentenced to three years in prison. On counts two to six, the first defendant (Harry Uyanwanne) received a seven-year sentence, while the second defendant (Odemuyiwa) was sentenced to three years in prison. However, they were acquitted on count seven.
Uyanwanne is sentenced to 10 years, Odemuyiwa (a.k.a Kristein Uyanwanne) is sentenced to six years. The judge ordered that the sentence is to run concurrently.
The judge also ordered the convicts to make restitution of the sum of N31 million to the nominal complainant within 60 days of the judgment.
It was previously alleged by the prosecution that in March 2016, the defendants unlawfully converted N10 million, belonging to the late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola, for their personal use.
Additionally, the defendants, with fraudulent intent, allegedly sold a property—Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government—to Mr. Kingsley Atere for N42 million. They falsely claimed that the first defendant was authorized by the property’s owner, the late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola, to sell it.
These actions are said to violate 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 No. 11 of 2011.