The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted Rahvet International Limited for unlawfully converting the sum of ₦21 million belonging to one Chioma Adeoye.
Justice Ismail Ijelu delivered the verdict after the company was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended one-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The charge stated that Rahvet International Limited, sometime in June 2021 within the Ikeja Judicial Division, dishonestly converted ₦21 million, the property of the complainant, to its own use.
The defendant company pleaded guilty when the charge was read.
Following the plea, the prosecution counsel, Anita Imo, called an EFCC operative, Leonard Ayakor, who narrated the facts of the case.
Ayakor told the court that the firm approached the complainant under the guise of carrying out a research project and induced her to transfer funds into its bank account.
He said investigations later revealed that a total of ₦21 million was paid into the company’s account.
The witness added that the entire sum was refunded to the complainant during the course of the EFCC’s investigation.
The prosecution tendered the complainant’s petition and the defendant’s statements, which were admitted in evidence.
After reviewing the facts and the guilty plea, Justice Ijelu found the company guilty as charged and convicted it accordingly.
The court sentenced Rahvet International Limited to a fine of ₦100,000, payable within 72 hours, noting that full restitution of the ₦21 million had already been made to the petitioner through the EFCC.