A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday, sentenced a 39-year-old businessman, Isa’ic Onah to 17 months imprisonment for defrauding his client of N1.1 million.
Onah of Tekan Estate, Masaka, Nasarawa State, was sentenced on a two-count charge of breach of trust and cheating.
The Area Court Judge, Aliyu Kagarko, however, gave the convict an option of N60,000 fine while he also ordered him to pay N1,150,000 as compensation to the complainant.
Kagarko said the punishment would have been stiffer if the convict had not saved the court the rigours of protracted prosecution.
He also warned the convict to be of good behaviour.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Onah had earlier pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency.
The Prosecutor, Mr Olisaemeka Okeke, had told the court that on Jan. 15, the complainant, Mr Analife Onyekachi, of Wuye, Abuja, reported the matter at Durumi Police Station.
Okeke said the complainant claimed that on Jan. 5, the convict deceived and collected N1,150, 000 from him under the pretence of being a car dealer.
He said the convict criminally deceived the complainant that he would assist him in buying a Honda Accord car but absconded with the money to an unknown place and converted the money to his personal use.
The prosecutor further stated that during the police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement, adding that all efforts made to recover the money had proved abortive.
Okeke said the offences contravene Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.