An Abuja property owner, Mercy Yusuf and her company, T.M. Properties Limited, have been convicted for fraud.
The defendants were convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya for fraudulently obtaining $298,000 and N40million from Bacab Properties Limited after claiming ownership of Plot 1721 Jahi District Cadastral Zone B08, Abuja.
Yusuf was sentenced to 24 years improvement by the court.
On October 20, 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged the defendants before the Justice E. Okpe-led High Court in Abuja.
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The anti-graft agency arraigned Yusuf on a four counts charge on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and using false documents as genuine.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the commencement of trial on February 1, 2022.
Six witnesses were presented to the court by the prosecuting team and they also tendered 14 documents that were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
Yusuf testified on behalf of herself and the second defendant, T.M. Limited, when their defence was opened on November 1, 2022.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Okpe, held that the prosecution proved the case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
They were found guilty on all the counts: 10 years imprisonment on counts one and two, and 2 years imprisonment on counts three and four to run concurrently.
The court further ordered the convicts to make restitution in the sum of $298,000 and N41 million to the nominal complainant.