Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has sentenced a banker, Tope Akintade, to two and half years imprisonment for the N8billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mutilated notes fraud.
The conviction followed the plea bargain agreement between the convict and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convict, who had been in prison since last year along with other suspects, was denied bail.
He made another bail application early this year on the grounds of ill health.
Akintade presented a medical report from a University College Hospital, Ibadan cardiologist, claiming that he had prostate cancer and hypertension.
But the application failed again.
His condition became terrible as he could neither walk nor stand.
His doctor warned that if urgent action is not taken it could lead to his death.
This led to his decision to opt for a plea bargain to enable him access treatment.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, said the convict will lose a shopping complex, house and N20,000 found in his bank account.
“Also any property discovered to have belonged to him after this judgment will also be confiscated.”
Justice Ayo- Emmanuel said his time in prison would begin from the date of his first arrest, which was March 20, last year.
With this development, two of the 27 suspects in the matter have been convicted.
