Abodurin Abozo was sentenced to eight years in jail by an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday for cheating a man out of N62 million under the guise of obtaining two land plots for him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, proved Abozo’s two-count accusation of gaining false pretences and stealing, according to Justice Ismail Ijelu.

According to Ijelu, the defendant received N56 million from the complainant, Mr. Samuel Segher, on the promise that he would receive two plots of land in Chevy Estate Ojomu in Lagos—a representation he was aware was untrue.

The court determined that following the payment, the defendant gave the complaint assurances that he was the land’s owner.

The complainant sought to reclaim the land, but all attempts to get his money back were unsuccessful, the court found after he learnt that someone had built there.

After that, Ijelu sentenced the defendant to seven years in prison without the possibility of a fine for count one and one year in jail for count two.

The defendant was also ordered by the court to return N62 million to the complainant.

The offender was arraigned by the EFCC on October 15, 2023, but after hearing the two counts read out, he entered a not guilty plea.

Along with his business, SGB &A Property Lines, he was charged.

After entering a not-guilty plea, the defendant testified as the only witness for the defence, while the EFCC Counsel, Mr. Spiff Owede, opened the trial by calling two witnesses.

A number of documents, including the convict’s extrajudicial remarks that the court admitted into evidence, were also offered by the prosecution.