An Abuja High Court has sentenced Jonathan Wallang, Managing Director of Swift and Hay Limited, to seven years in prison without an option of fine for defrauding the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Staff Bonny Cooperative Investment and Credit Society of N700 million.
Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, delivered the judgment after a 10-year trial initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Wallang was arraigned in 2015 alongside three others on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the EFCC, Wallang fraudulently obtained N520 million on October 20, 2011, and another N130 million on November 3, 2011, under the guise of selling a plot of land in Idu-Sabo District, Abuja, purportedly belonging to Larix Company Limited—a property he had no legal right to sell.
While Wallang pleaded not guilty, the trial continued for a decade. Two of his co-defendants, Julius Ola Peter and Ijeoma David Alanza, died during the course of the trial, while another, Emeka Iloegbunam, was discharged and acquitted.
Justice Muazu convicted Wallang on counts 1 to 3 (conspiracy and forgery), sentencing him to two years each with an option of N200,000 fine per count. He was also convicted on counts 6 and 7 (obtaining money by false pretence), for which he received seven years each without an option of fine. The sentences will run concurrently.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court ordered Wallang to restitute N580 million to the NLNG Staff Cooperative.
The case began after the EFCC received a petition from the NLNG Cooperative Society in 2015, alleging that Wallang and his associates defrauded the organization under the pretext of procuring land in Abuja.
