Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, has convicted and sentenced Abodurin Gerald Abozo to eight years imprisonment for land fraud.

Abozo was found guilty as charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was arraigned on October 15, 2023, alongside S.G.B. & A Property Lines Company on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and theft of N62 million.

He allegedly obtained the money from one Samuel Segher under the false pretence that he had two plots of land for sale at Chevy Estate, Ojomu Chieftaincy Family land, Lagos.

When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, M. S. Owede, commenced trial and called two witnesses while the defendant testified in his defence. The prosecution also tendered several documents, including extra-judicial statements of the defendant, which the court admitted in evidence.

In his testimony, the prosecution witness told the court that the defendant was arrested after the anti-graft commission received the petition.

The witness further told the court that the defendant informed him that he owned the land and that, after payment, he wanted to take possession only to discover that someone else had built on the land. However, all efforts to recover his money proved abortive.

While delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Ijelu sentenced him to seven years imprisonment without the option of a fine on count one.

He also sentenced him to one-year imprisonment on count two and ordered him to make restitution to the nominal complainant in the sum of N62 million.