An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced Ayodeji Oluokun, an assistant pastor of the Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, to two years imprisonment for issuing a $1.6 million dud cheque.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluokun was charged alongside his company, Peak Petroleum Industry Nigeria Ltd., on an amended six-count charge bordering on the issuance of dud cheque, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
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Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in her judgment, held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charge of issuance of a dud cheque against the defendants.
Taiwo, however, discharged and acquitted the defendants of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.
“Issuance of cheque for lack of credit is a strictly liable offence. If the defendant was truly expecting some money till the end of July 2014 as claimed by him, he would have waited till he received the money before issuing the cheque on June 24, 2014,” said Taiwo.
The judge, however, gave the defendant and his company an option of a N2 million fine each.
She ordered the convict to make restitution of $1.6 million to the nominal complainant within 18 months.(NAN)
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