A Federal High Court in Jos has sentenced a former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe and two others for N450 million fraud.
Sarah will not cool off in cell alone as the court also sentenced Raymond Dabo and Leo Jitung to three months imprisonment each.
It would be recalled that the nation’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in 2018 charged them with conspiracy and money laundering.
In his judgement, Justice Musa Kurna, gave the convicts an option to pay a fine of N1 Million each.
It was reported that Ochekpe, Dabo and Jitung had entered a plea of no case submission.
While sentencing the convicts, the judge held that after withdrawing the said amount from the bank, they did not withhold the money to themselves but delivered same to a governorship candidate, as such were not guilty of retaining the sum for themselves.
The judge however said they were guilty of withdrawing the N450 million which he said was above the threshold of an individual withdrawal.
Kurna averred that the offence, which contravened the provisions of Section 16(1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2013 as amended, is an offence which carries a minimum of three years imprisonment or a N10 million fine.
But, in his discretion, the judge sentenced them to three months imprisonment each or an option of N1 million naira each.
