A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday July 11, 2013 convicted and sentenced one Ayoola Coker, a 37-year-old stockbroker to 30 years imprisonment for stealing N17.5 million belonging to his clients.
Justice
Adeniyi Onigbanjo gave this verdict after Coker pleaded guilty to the 15-
count charge that borders stealing,
issuance of dud cheque, forgery and uttering preferred against him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The
judge sentenced him to two years on each count even as he directed that the sentences
would run concurrently from
December 1, 2011.
Justice
Onigbanjo, before pronouncing the sentence, took note of the fact that Coker
made efforts to restitute the victims, Mr Saheed Gbadamosi and his son, Taiwo.
Coker
had transferred the title deed of his landed property at Idimu, Lagos worth N8 million
and a car valued N1 million to the victims.
The
convict was first arraigned on June 6,
2011 and pleaded not guilty.
Justice
Onigbanjo noted that the voluntary change of plea by the convict demonstrates sufficient remorse “to warrant the leniency of the charge.”
The
accused had in 2010 fraudulently sold numerous shares worth N17.5 million which
were kept in his custody by his clients.
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