An Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced husband and wife, Harry and Kristen Uyanwanne, to 10 years in prison on Wednesday for stealing N52 million through their church, Temple International Church. The court also ordered the church to be deregistered and closed down.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the couple and their church with seven counts of stealing and fraud. They pleaded not guilty when arraigned in February 2020, and the trial proceeded.
In her judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada found the couple guilty on all charges, stating that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Harry Uyanwanne was sentenced to three years imprisonment on count one and seven years each on counts two through six. Kristen Uyanwanne was discharged and acquitted on count seven. The sentences will run concurrently.
The court ordered the convicts to pay N31 million in restitution to the nominal complainant within 60 days.
According to the EFCC, the Uyanwannes dishonestly converted N10 million belonging to the late Mrs. Adeola Odemuyiwa for their personal use in March 2016. They also falsely claimed Harry had the authority to sell a Magodo, Lagos property owned by the complainant, selling it to one Kingsley Atere for N42 million.
The offences violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 as well as the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. With the sentencing, the couple will face a decade in prison while their church will be shut down permanently.