The Abattoir Chief Magistrate’s Court in Jos, on Friday sentenced 40-year-old Nancy Vincent to six months’ imprisonment.

She was found guilty of defrauding two women of N60,000 in the guise of getting them loans.

The presiding judge, Simi Drenkat, handed down the sentence after the convict pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of fraud and begged the court for leniency.

The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option of N20,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment, and she was asked to pay N184,000 in two instalments as compensation.

In the event of default in payment, she would be sentenced to one-year imprisonment.

Prosecutor Patrick William told the court that the case was reported at the B Division Police Station, Jos, in September 2021, by Mercy Razak and Patricia Markus.

He revealed that the complainants said the accused person had collected N60,000 from them under the guise of getting a loan for them.

The prosecutor further told the court that during investigation the accused person pleaded guilty to have committed the crime and said she had converted the money to her own personal use.

Mr William stated that the offence contravened section 297 of the Plateau State Penal Code law of Northern Nigeria. 

(NAN)