Former Minister Bags Three-Month Jail Term For Fraud



The Federal High Court in Jos, has  sentenced former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe and two others for N450 million fraud.

The court also sentenced Raymond Dabo and Leo Jitung to three months imprisonment each.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them in 2018 with conspiracy and money laundering.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Musa Kurna, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N1 million each.

Ochekpe, Dabo and Jitung had entered a plea of no-case submission.

While sentencing the convicts, the judge held that after withdrawing the said amount from the bank, they did not withhold the money to themselves but delivered the same to a governorship candidate, as such were not guilty of retaining the sum for themselves.

Kurna stated that, they were guilty of withdrawing the N450 million which he said was above the threshold of an individual withdrawal.

The offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2013 as amended, is an offence that carries a minimum of three years imprisonment or a N10 million fine.

The judge, in his discretion sentenced them to three months imprisonment each or an option N1 million naira each.

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