Agent bags 2 years’ jail term for land fraud

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 48-year-old agent, Adewale Abiodun, to two years in prison for N2million land scam.

The convict was tried on a two-count charge of theft and obtaining money by false pretences after he pleaded guilty.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel sentenced Abiodun to 12 months imprisonment on each of the two-count charge without an option of fine.

He ruled that the sentences should run concurrently.

Emmanuel also ordered the convict to restitute the sum of N2million to the complainant, Mr. Owolabi Kadiri.

He also ordered that in the event that the convict failed to restitute the complainant, he shall serve additional eight months prison term.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant and one other at large, committed the offences in 2021 at Ungwan Maigero along Narayi Kaduna.

Leo said that the defendant and his accomplice, unlawfully and under false pretences, obtained N2million from the complainant, to buy land for him.

He said that the defendant converted the money to his personal use and various efforts made by the complainant to get his money back proved abortive.

The prosecution said that the offences contravened Sections 271 and 309 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.