Lagos Court Sentences Man to 8 Years in Prison for N62 Million Land Fraud

Abodurin Gerald Abozo, a Nigerian man, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for defrauding Engineer Samuel Segher of N62 million under the guise of selling him two plots of land in Chevy Estate in 2013.

Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, after Abozo was found guilty of obtaining money under false pretense and stealing.

Case Background

Abozo, operating under the name S.G.B. & A Property Lines Company, deceived Engineer Samuel Segher in 2013 into paying N62 million for two plots of land in Chevy Estate, claiming to sell them when he had no intention of doing so.

Charges and Trial

Abozo was charged on October 15, 2023, with two counts:

Obtaining money under false pretense
Stealing

He pleaded “not guilty,” leading to a full trial. Prosecution counsel M.S. Owede presented two witnesses and submitted various documents, including Abozo’s extra-judicial statement, all of which were accepted by the court.

Judgment and Sentence

In the judgment, Justice Ijelu sentenced Abozo to:

Seven years in prison for the first count (obtaining money under false pretense)
One year in prison for the second count (stealing)

The sentences will run consecutively, with no option of a fine. Additionally, Abozo was ordered to repay the N62 million to the victim.

Implications

This ruling serves as a warning against land fraud and scams in Lagos, emphasizing the importance of thorough verification and due diligence in property transactions.

Reacting to the judgment, Engineer Samuel Segher expressed relief, saying, “Justice has been served. I hope this will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such nefarious activities.”