Sarah Ochekpe, a former Nigerian Minister of Water Resources, and two others were sentenced to prison by a Federal High Court in Jos. ayokinews.com reports
They were each sentenced to three months imprisonment for N450 million money laundering on Tuesday.
For the last four years, Sarah Ochekpe, Raymond Dabo, and Leo Jitung, have been on trial on allegations of conspiracy and money laundering.
The case was Presided upon by Justice Musa Kurna, who granted them the option of paying a fine of N1,000,000.
The judge ruled that the prisoners were not guilty of keeping the money after withdrawal from the bank since they did not keep it for themselves but instead gave it to a governorship candidate.
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Kurna, however, ruled that they were guilty of taking N450 million, which he claimed exceeded the individual withdrawal limits.
According to him, the crime, which violated Section 16(1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2013 as amended, warrants a minimum sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine of N10 million.
The judge further condemned them to three months imprisonment or a fine option of N1 million naira each.
