The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting at Maitama—Abuja, has convicted Mr. Jonathan Wallang of defrauding the Cooperative Society of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) of Seven Hundred Million Naira (N700,000,000).
Mr. Wallang was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Directorate in 2015 before Justice Hamza Muazu on seven-count charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
His arraignment followed a petition by the NLNG Cooperative Society to the EFCC regarding the convict and three others who connived to defraud the Cooperative of the sum of N700m in the guise of securing landed properties for the Cooperative in the FCT.
Mr. Wallang pleaded not guilty to the charges, paving the way for his full trial that lasted 10 years.
During the trial, two defendants, Julius Ola Peter and Ijeoma David Alanza, passed on, while the first defendant, Emeka Iloegbunam, was discharged and acquitted.
Justice Muazu, while delivering judgment, convicted and sentenced Mr. Wallang to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine.
He further ordered the convict to restitute the sum of Five Hundred and Eighty Million Naira (N580, 000,000) to NLNG Staff Bonny Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited.
