EFCC: Couple Bag 14 Years Jail Term for N67.6m Fraud in Lagos
A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 14 years imprisonment each for defrauding a petitioner of ₦67.6 million.
Justice Mojisola Dada delivered the judgment on Monday, November 2, 2026, after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The court also ordered the convicts to make full restitution of ₦67,659,592 to the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, had prosecuted the couple on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
One of the charges alleged that sometime in 2010, the defendants conspired to fraudulently sell a property belonging to beneficiaries of the estate of late Dr. Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa.
The property, located at No. 19, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Lagos, was allegedly sold for ₦16 million under the false representation that the defendants had the authority of the estate’s beneficiaries to dispose of it.
The EFCC said the defendants pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned, leading to a full trial.
During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Fadeke Giwa, called three witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, while the defence presented one witness.
In his judgment, Justice Dada held that the prosecution had established its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge consequently convicted both defendants on the three counts of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence but discharged them on the fourth count bordering on forgery.
Specifically, the court sentenced them to three years imprisonment for conspiracy, one year for stealing and 10 years for obtaining money by false pretence, without an option of fine.
The combined sentences amount to 14 years imprisonment each.
However, Justice Dada ordered that the sentence of the first defendant be suspended until he is apprehended.
The offences were said to have contravened Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
