A self-acclaimed prophetess, Linda Mabi-Praise, has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison over a fraud of N128 million.
Linda Mabi-Praise’s conviction and sentencing were secured by the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before Justice Sherifat O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Mabi-Praise, who was charged with three counts of intent to defraud, allegedly dishonestly obtained the said sum from a firm, Accelsor Investment Partners Limited, in the guise that her company, Mutano Energy Limited, was an accredited oil and gas dealer and that she was into oil and gas dealership.
She was also accused of issuing dud cheques to offset the funds.
Mabi-Praise pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when she was arraigned in March 2019 prompting commencement of trial.
Prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, during the trial, called two witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence to prove the case against the defendant.
Justice Solebo found her guilty of counts one and three bordering on obtaining by false pretense and issuing of dishonored cheques.
She held that the prosecution proved the allegations of obtaining by false pretense and issuance of dud cheques “beyond reasonable doubt.