A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (also known as Kristein Uyanwanne), to a total of 16 years in prison for stealing N52 million.
The court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, also convicted Temple International Church and ordered its deregistration for being complicit in fraudulent activities under the guise of religious practices.
The couple and the church were found guilty on seven counts brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had initially arraigned the defendants on February 25, 2020, where they pleaded not guilty, leading to a trial.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Babatunde Sonoiki, presented five witnesses, while the defence called two.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Dada concluded that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Harry Uyanwanne was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa received six years. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On count one, both were sentenced to three years, while Uyanwanne received an additional seven years for counts two to six. They were acquitted of count seven.
The court also mandated the convicts to refund N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The EFCC had accused the couple of misappropriating N10 million belonging to the late Mrs. Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola in March 2016.
They were also alleged to have sold a property—Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja Local Government—for N42 million under false pretences, claiming Uyanwanne had the authority to sell it on behalf of the deceased.
Their actions were deemed violations of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.