The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arrested Floriana De-Stefani, an Italian national, following her failure to comply with a court order after being convicted by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, issued a statement on Friday in Abuja, revealing that Justice Dada had, on October 7, 2022, found De-Stefani guilty of utilizing false documents and counterfeit seals to unlawfully claim ownership of a property. The said property was registered under the ownership of Waterside Properties Limited, constituting an offense under Section 366 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Upon delivering the judgment, Justice Dada sentenced De-Stefani to three years in prison and ordered the release of the property located at 14 A&B Warring Road (formerly Bayo Kuku Road), Ikoyi, Lagos, to Waterside Properties Limited within three weeks.
However, De-Stefani was re-arrested on December 19, 2023, for failing to vacate the property, as mandated by the court’s order for release to the rightful owner. The EFCC, after her arrest, issued a notice instructing her to vacate the property within seven days, warning of legal actions if she fails to comply.
De-Stefani, along with Stella Ndubusi Ogboju, had initially been arraigned on March 30, 2019, facing a five-count charge related to forgery and theft of a property owned by Waterside Properties Limited. The charges were later amended to a six-count charge by the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima.
One of the amended charges stated: “That you, Floriana De-Stefani, sometime in 2015, within the Ikeja judicial Division of this Honourable court, dishonestly converted for your own use a property known and situated at No.14A/B Warring Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, a property of Waterside Properties Limited.”
