Obasanjo’s In-law, John Abebe, Sentenced To 7-Years Imprisonment | READ WHY

Dr John Abebe, a brother in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for forgery and laundering.

Justice Mojisola Dada of Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced Adebe on Saturday, February 18, 2023 with an option of fine to the tune of N50 million to be paid within 30 days in lieu of imprisonment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had in September 2022,arraigned Abebe, who is the younger brother to the late former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo before the court for forgery.

Abebe was arraigned alongside a former Head of First Bank Plc, United Kingdom Correspondent Office, Kamoru Alade Oladimeji and Inducon Nigeria Limited before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, on a six-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining money under pretense.

The EFCC, in the charges, claimed that Abebe “knowingly forged” a November 30, 1995 letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon Limited.

Some of the counts against the defendants read:

“That you Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; stealing the sum of N120 million property of Arsenal Technologies Limited.

“That you Dr. John Abebe and Kamoru Alade Oladimeji, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; obtaining by false pretence the sum of N120 million property of Arsenal Technologies Limited under the pretence that your property lying being and situate at 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos State, which you pledged as the security to the Arsenal Technologies Limited was unencumbered, which representation you knew to be false.”

“That you Dr. John Abebe and Inducon Nigeria Limited, on or about the 4th day of June 2013, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and to gain for yourself the sum of $1,000,000.00 or its naira equivalent from Arsenal Technologies Limited by false pretence to procured the execution of valuable security to wit: a deed of assignment between Inducon Nigeria Limited and Arsenal Technologies Limited, wherein you falsely claimed that the property lying being and situate at No. 9, Magbon Close, Ikoyi-Lagos was unencumbered and that you have full powers to assign and transfer the said property to the assignor; Arsenal Technologies Limited.”

The EFCC maintained that the offences were contrary to sections 280(1), (12), 8 (7), 285(1) and 278(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.