Businesswoman jailed 9 months for N2m contract scam

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday sentenced a 38- year-old businesswoman, Judith Williams to nine months imprisonment for N2million contract scam.

Williams, who lives in Barnawa, Kaduna is charged with theft and obtaining by money false pretence.

Delivering, Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel held that the prosecution had established the case against the convict beyond reasonable doubt.

The magistrate however gave her an option of N200,000 fine and ordered her to restitute the sum of N2million to the complainant, Douglas John.

”If the convict fails to pay the restitution, she shall serve additional one year prison term,” he held.

The magistrate further ordered her to write an undertaking to be of good behaviour.

The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the convict was first arraigned on Nov. 25, 2019 and was granted bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In the course of the trial, the prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo called three witnesses and presented several exhibits to prove the case against the convict.

NAN reports that in the charges brought to court, the defendant obtained N2m from the complainant on the false pretence of securing a contract for him which she failed to do.

The offence according to the prosecutor contravened the provisions of sections 271 and 411 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.