sentenced Col. Eugene Okpala (retd.) to 7 years in prison in a case of
conspiracy, and obtaining money [N34.5m] under false pretences.
The convict duped a church, Dominium City Church, of the sum of N34.5million in 2010.
The
EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, that 62yrs
old Okpala was earlier slated for trial on Wednesday but the case took a
different turn when the retired colonel decided to change his plea from
“not guilty” to “guilty”.
Okpala was said to
have in 2008, approached a lawyer Vincent Obetta of Igwurube Chambers
and a member of Dominion City Church under the pretext of having large
portion of land for sale at N40m.
The complainant, Dominium City
Church, in need of a landed property to build their school, negotiated
and eventually bought the land for N34.5m. The church also paid
additional five percent of the sum, which is, N1.75m as agency fee to
Igbwurube Chambers.
Consequently, in September 2010, the church
started developing the land, but another lawyer came up to tell them
that the land belonged to one Chief Philip C. Asiodu.
The
statement read in part, “Investigation was launched into the matter and
the convict was found culpable and was arraigned. During trial, counsel
for the EFCC, I. I. Mbachie tendered 13 exhibits which were admitted in
evidence and marked as exhibit C1-13.
“Having changed his plea,
the defence counsel, E. O. Isinu, prayed the court to temper justice
with mercy saying, his client was a first time offender.
“Justice
Yunusa consequently sentenced Okpala to seven years imprisonment on
each count preferred against him. The sentences are to run
concurrently.”