Justice Babs Kuewunmi of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday convicted and sentenced a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr Clement Illoh to 12 years imprisonment for failing to declare his assets.
Justice Kuewunmi handed down the verdict after Illoh pleaded guilty to a three-count charge bordering on non-declaration.
The former top civil servant was arraigned before the court on April 3, 2017, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the first count, the defendant on the 19th of April 2016 in Lagos allegedly failed to make full disclosure of assets to the tune of N97.3m, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 subsection 3c of the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004.
According to the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo the offences are contrary to the provisions Of sections 23 (3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge but he changed his plea after the EFCC closed its case.
In his judgment, Justice Kuewunmi held, “I have given due attention to the plea for mercy, however, the court will not fail to perform its duty by the provisions of the law.
“Consequently, the defendant is hereby sentenced to four years in each of the counts and the same shall run concurrently from the 10th of October 2019,” the judge held.
Justice Kuewunmi also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N97,300,613.44, $139,575.50 and £10,121.52 respectively to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of unlawful activities.
The convict had earlier on October 3, 2019, been convicted and sentenced by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Lagos State Special Offences Court to five years imprisonment on a two-count charge of stealing by converting the sum of N14.1 million, property of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, (NIMASA).
