The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced an Italian woman, Floriana De Stefani, to three years imprisonment for laying claim to a property belonging to her landlord, Waterside Properties Limited
Justice Mojisola Dada jailed the foreigner after she found her guilty of one of the six counts brought against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The judge, in her judgment, held that the convict used forged documents to claim the property where she was a tenant after the death of her husband, Luca Signorelli.
The court specifically found her guilty of using false documents and counterfeit seals to confer ownership of the property on herself.
The EFCC had on March 30, 2019, arraigned the convict alongside a Nigerian Stella Ogboru on five counts but later amended the charge to six counts and drop the name of her co-defendant from the charge.
She was charged with offences bordering on forgery, stealing of property and use of false documents and counterfeit seals.
The foreigner had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which led to her trial.
In his plea for mercy, the defence counsel, Babatunde Ogungbamila, urged the judge to temper justice with mercy, stating that the aged Italian and widow was a first-time offender who was misled by her former lawyer.
Credit: channelstv.com
