A Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced two friends to one year in prison each for defrauding another person of N700,000.

The Judge, Ishaq Hassan, however, gave the convicts an option of N45,000 fine each, and ordered them to pay N350,000 each as compensation.

The convicts, Jennifer Uche, 34, and Isaiah Oyelade, 42, who were of different addresses, had pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Olarewaju Osho, told the court that the complainant, Serah Friday, reported the matter at the Nyanya Police Station on November 17.

“The complainant had alleged that the convicts approached her on June 20, to assist them by lending them the sum of N700,000 with agreement to refund the money in three months.

“However, with intent to cheat the complainant, the convicts as soon as they collected the said money, absconded to an unknown destination until Nov. 17.

“They were traced and arrested at Jabi, Abuja, and brought to the station,” he said.

The prosecutor said the offence is contrary to and punishable under sections 97, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

(NAN)