A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has sentenced a couple, Harry Uyanwanne and Oluwakemi Odemuyiwa (Kristein Uyanwanne), and Temple International Church for various offenses, including fraud and theft. Justice Mojisola Dada found them guilty and ordered the church’s closure for its involvement in the fraudulent activities. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had filed seven charges against them related to these crimes.
On February 25, 2020, the EFCC arraigned a couple who pleaded not guilty, resulting in a trial. The prosecution presented five witnesses, while the defense brought two. Ultimately, the judge determined that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in the couple’s conviction.
Justice Dada sentenced the first convict, Harry Uyanwanne, to three years in prison on count one and seven years on counts two to six. The second convict, Odemuyiwa, received a three-year sentence. However, both were acquitted on count seven.
Uyanwanne was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Odemuyiwa (also known as Kristein Uyanwanne) received a six-year sentence, with both sentences running concurrently. Justice Dada also ordered the closure and deregistration of the third convict, Temple International Church, for using its name to defraud people. Additionally, the judge instructed the convicts to repay N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The EFCC accused the convicts of fraudulently converting N10 million belonging to the late Mrs. Janet Adeola Odemuyiwa in March 2016. They allegedly sold her property, Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo Residential Scheme 1, Ikeja, to Mr. Kingsley Atere for N42 million, falsely claiming that the first convict was authorized to sell it by the legitimate owner. The allegations violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act and Lagos State’s Criminal Law.