A Lagos court has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 14 years in prison each for their involvement in a N67.66 million fraud involving a property belonging to beneficiaries of a late estate.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, convicted the couple on Monday, November 2, 2026, following their prosecution by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court also ordered full restitution of N67,659,592 to the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s spokesperson, on Monday, the couple were convicted on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
They were, however, discharged on a fourth count alleging forgery.
The anti-graft agency said the offences stemmed from a property transaction in 2010 involving Plot 19, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Lagos.
Prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to dishonestly take possession of property belonging to beneficiaries of the estate of late Dr Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa.
One of the counts alleged that the couple sold the property for N16 million, falsely representing that they had authority from the bona fide beneficiaries of the estate to dispose of it.
The prosecution further alleged that the representation was knowingly false and made with the intention of defrauding the purchaser.
During the trial, both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
EFCC prosecutor, Fadeke Giwa, called three witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits in support of the case, while the defence called one witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Dada held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found the defendants guilty of the three substantive offences.
On the first count, the judge sentenced them to three years’ imprisonment.
They received one year for the stealing charge and 10 years, without the option of a fine, for obtaining money by false pretence.
They were discharged on the fourth count relating to forgery.
The court also ordered that the sentence imposed on the first defendant be suspended until he is apprehended.
EFCC said the alleged offences contravened Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, among other applicable provisions.
