A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odia, also known as Kristein Uyanwanne, to 14 years’ imprisonment each for their involvement in a N67.6 million property fraud.
The court, presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada, delivered the judgment on Monday, November 2, 2026, after finding the defendants guilty of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, prosecuted the couple on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
According to the EFCC, the defendants were accused of fraudulently dealing with a property belonging to beneficiaries of the estate of the late Dr. Moshood Babatunde Odemuyiwa.
The prosecution alleged that sometime in 2010, the defendants conspired to dishonestly take possession of the property known as Plot 19, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ebute Meta, Oyingbo, Lagos.
They were also accused of selling the property for N16 million under the false pretence that they had been authorised by the bona fide beneficiaries of the late Odemuyiwa’s estate to dispose of it.
The alleged transaction formed part of a wider fraud involving N67,659,592, which the defendants were accused of obtaining from the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
At their arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the commencement of trial.
The prosecution counsel, 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 successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently convicted both defendants on counts one, two and three.
On count one, bordering on conspiracy, the judge sentenced each defendant to three years’ imprisonment. On count two, which bordered on stealing, they were sentenced to one year each, while count three, obtaining money by false pretence, attracted 10 years’ imprisonment each without an option of fine.
The defendants were, however, discharged on count four, which bordered on forgery.
The court further ordered the defendants to make full restitution of N67,659,592 to the petitioner, Olusola Odemuyiwa.
Justice Dada also ordered that the sentence imposed on the first defendant be suspended until he is apprehended.
The EFCC had alleged that the offences were committed contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011, among other relevant provisions.
The conviction followed the commission’s prosecution of the case over the alleged fraudulent sale of the property belonging to beneficiaries of the late Odemuyiwa’s estate.
