Former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, and two others were, Tuesday, sentenced to three years imprisonment each for money laundering.
But in handling the sentence down to the convicts, the Federal High Court sitting in Jos gave them a breather: an option of a N1million fine on each count.
In his judgment, Justice Haruna Kurya found Sarah Ochekpe, Raymond Dabo, and Leo Sunday Jitung guilty on two counts out of the three filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
But they were released after payment of the N1million option of fine.
The convicts had been standing trial for the past four years on charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and accepting cash payment against threshold as allowed by law.
The court, Channels Television reported, found the troika guilty on counts one and two for conspiracy as well as retention of N450 million which is above the amount allowed by law.
They, were, however, discharged and acquitted on the third charge.
Mrs. Ochekpe served under former President Goodluck Jonathan as Minister