A 37-year-old man, Chukwuemeka Ewa, was on Wednesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for defrauding one Toyeeb Olanrewaju of N5m in Lagos State.

 The defendant was arraigned on June 17, 2021, by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate P. E. Nwaka sitting in the Yaba Magistrates’ court, on three counts of fraud, false pretence and stealing.

 Ewa was alleged to have collected N5m from Olanrewaju pretending to be the owner of a property at No 12, Afolabi Street, Shibiri, Lagos and that he was in a position to sell and deliver the same property to him.

 The prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, presented to the court documents to prove that the defendant defrauded the claimant.

 In his ruling, the magistrate said, “On Count One of the charge, obtaining money by false pretences, the defendant is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour.

 “On Count Two which is stealing, the defendant is sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour.

 “On Count Three which is a breach of peace, the defendant is sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour; the sentence is to run concurrently from the time of arraignment, June 17, 2021.”

PUNCH