A commercial tricycle operator, Emmanuel Osita, was, yesterday, sentenced to three years imprisonment without an option of fine by a Lagos high court for defrauding an 81-year-old woman, Veronica Okonkwo, of N27 million.
The convict, who was arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2014, after the victim wrote a petition to EFCC, stating that the convict conspired with some others still at large to convince her that they had the capacity to produce local and foreign currencies from pieces of papers by dipping them into mercury.
Osita and his accomplices hoodwinked the octogenarian to part with N120,000 as registration fee with a mercury company prior to the procurement of the chemical.
The woman was also induced to sell her property in Festac Town, Lagos, for N27 million and the proceeds appropriated by the convict and his co-travellers.
The convict was arraigned on July 1, 2014, but pleaded guilty after making restitution to the victim, including the property valued at N27 million, as the alleged buyer forfeited same to the victim.
Based on his plea and restitution, Justice Lawal Akapo convicted and sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment without any option of fine.