An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced a couple, Harry and Kristen Uyanwanne, to 10 years in prison for misusing a church to embezzle N52 million.
The court also ordered the deregistration and closure of their church, Temple International Church.
The couple, alongside the church, faced seven counts of theft and fraud brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC initially arraigned the duo on February 25, 2020, where they pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada found the couple guilty on multiple charges, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Harry was sentenced to three years on one count and an additional seven years on counts two to six, while Kristen was acquitted on count seven. The sentences will run concurrently.
Justice Dada also ordered the closure of the church and directed the convicts to repay N31 million to the complainant within 60 days.
The court heard that in March 2016, the couple misappropriated N10 million belonging to the late Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa. They also fraudulently sold a property at Plot 32, Block 9, Magodo, Lagos, to Kingsley Atere for N42 million, falsely claiming Harry was authorized to sell it.
The prosecution argued that the couple’s actions violated Section 1 (2) and (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, as well as Sections 278 and 285 (1) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011.