The Pastor of Temple International Church, Harry Uyanwanne, and his wife, Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing N52m, which belongs to one late Odemuyiwa Janet Adeola by the Lagos State Special Offenses Court sitting in Ikeja.
The couple was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining by pretence.
The Prosecutor, Sunday Daji, told the court that the couple sold Late Adeola’s property located at plot 32, block 9, Magodo residential scheme 1, Ikeja Local government area, to Mr Kingsley Atere for N42m.
Daji also claimed that the convicts dishonestly converted the sum of N10m property of the late Mrs Adeola to their use.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 1 (2) and (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act No. 14 of 2006 and Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of the Lagos State of Nigeria No.11 of 2011.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them on arraignment.
In her judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada held that the prosecution had proven its case against the convicts beyond all reasonable doubts. She, therefore, sentenced the couple to three years in prison for the first count.
Dada sentenced Harry Uyanwanne to seven for counts two to six. She sentenced Odemuyiwa to three years but discharged and acquitted her on the seventh count.
Consequently, Uyanwanne has a total of 10 years while Odemuyiwa will serve six years with the sentences running concurrently.
Justice Dada also ordered the closure and deregistration of Temple International Church and required the convicts to pay restitution of N31m to the nominal complainant within 60 days of the judgment.
