Trouble as Court Sentences Obasanjo's Brother-in-law to 7 Years Imprisonment

Trouble as Court Sentences Obasanjo's Brother-in-law to 7 Years Imprisonment

A brother-in-law to Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

The Cable reports that John Abebe, the younger brother of former First Lady, late Stella Obasanjo, was sentenced to prison on Saturday, February 18, by a Lagos state special offences court in Ikeja over the forgery of a document belonging to an oil company.

John Abebe, EFCC, Forgery
John Abebe, an in-law to Obasanjo has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Photo: The Cable
Source: UGC

Justice Mojisola Dada while delivering judgement on the matter, however, allowed an option of N50 million fine to be paid by the convict.

The judge over the matter said that the fine could only be paid within 30 days in lieu of imprisonment.

Trouble started after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Abebe on a four-count charge bordering on forgery.

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

The anti-graft agency in its allegation accused the businessman of "knowingly forging November 30, 1995 letter which was written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd."

Read also

Naira swap: Tinubu's APC ally issues threat to mega-stores for rejecting old notes

According to the EFCC, Abebe inserted a sentence into a 2-page letter illegally.

The EFCC said Abebe added:

“Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from production of Oil in any of our fields.”

EFCC arraigns Obasanjo’s in-law, former banker for multi-million naira fraud

An in-law of ex-President Obasanjo, John Abebe, had earlier been dragged to court by Nigeria's anti-graft agency, EFCC Abebe who is the younger brother of the former First Lady of Nigeria.

He was arraigned alongside a former banker over an alleged multi-million naira fraud.

The defendants, however, pleaded guilty and were granted bail ahead of the trial which has been fixed for December.

EFCC says Governor Matawalle buying Abuja properties with "proceeds of crime"

In another report, Bello Matawalle, the governor of Zamfara state was accused of corruption by the EFCC.

Read also

Naira Swap: Peter Obi's running mate says El-Rufai, others' stance are treasonable, faults Buhari's broadcast

The anti-graft agency said it decided to investigate the governor after it gathered intelligence indicating that Matawalle was allegedly “using state funds to acquire several properties worth billions of naira in Abuja”.

According to the commission, a preliminary investigation showed one of the properties the governor had bought is located at Plot 729, Cadastral Zone C16, Idu Industrial Estate in Abuja.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nnenna Ibeh avatar

Nnenna Ibeh Nnenna Ibeh is a journalist with over 10 years of experience with various media organisations including Premium Times. Being on the front burner of reporting politics and the different dimensions of governance, she is also passionate about girls' education and women's and children's health. With degrees in Journalism, Peace Studies & Conflict Res., and Dev. Studies, Nnenna has worked in the dev. sector as a communications officer for the Centre for Democracy and Dev. email: ibehnnenna@gmail.com