Business
Why Popular Socialite John Abebe Was Handed 7yrs Prison Sentence
given the option of paying N15 million fine
Popular Socialite John Abebe has been handed a 7years prison sentence.
The ruling was given by a Lagos state special offences court in Ikeja.
The socialite who is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo was handed the sentence forging a document belonging to an oil company.
He was, however, given the option of paying N15 million fine in lieu of spending time in prison according to a report monitored by SocietyNow.Ng on Thecable.ng.
Judge Mojisola Dada gave the ruling on Saturday in a corruption case brought against Abebe by the anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC in a four-count charge accused the younger brother of late first lady, Stella Obasanjo of knowing forging letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd dated November 30, 1995 SocietyNow.Ng furthered gathered from the report on Thecable.ng.
The Commission accused Abebe of inserting ” “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from production of Oil in any of our fields.” into page 2 of the latter.
The businessman was alleged to have attempted to pervert justice by submitting the “fabricated evidence” in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/224/2010 between John Abebe, Inducon Nigeria Limited, and Statoil Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC insisted that Abebe attempt to mislead the court is contrary to section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos state of Nigeria 2003.
