The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of Jonathan Wallang before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
Wallang was convicted and sentenced for defrauding the Cooperative Society of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) the sum of N700,000, 000( Seven Hundred Million Naira only).
He was arraigned by the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
According to a statement on EFCC’s X handle, Wallang’s conviction marks the end of a legal battle that began ten years ago.
The statement partly reads:
Quote
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate has secured the conviction and sentence of one Jonathan Wallang before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court sitting in Maitama Abuja, for defrauding the Cooperative Society of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, the sum of N700,000, 000( Seven Hundred Million Naira only).
“He was jailed after a full trial lasting 10 years upon being arraigned by the EFCC on seven-count charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
“The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, paving way for his full trial that lasted 10 years. In the course of the trial, two defendants, Julius Ola Peter and Ijeoma David Alanza passed on while the 1st defendant, one Emeka Iloegbunam was discharged and acquitted. However, Jonathan Wallang was found guilty and convicted.
“Justice Muazu, while delivering judgment, convicted and sentenced Wallang to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine. He was convicted on counts 1, 2 and 3 bordering on conspiracy and forgery and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each. He was also convicted on counts 6 and 7 bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and sentenced to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine. The judge also ordered that the convict restitute the sum of N580, 000,000 (Five Hundred and Eighty Million Naira) to NLNG Staff Bonny Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited.
“Wallang’s journey to Kuje Correctional Center began in 2015 when Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG Cooperative Society’s petitioned the EFCC regarding the convict and three others who connived to defraud the Cooperative of the sum of N700,000,000 (Seven Hundred Million Naira) in the guise of securing landed properties for it in the Federal Capital Territory.”