Nigeria, March 19 -- Two Nigerians have been jailed in the United Kingdom (U.K.) for defrauding the government to the tune of £489,000 (about N259 million at official exchange rate) under the coronavirus relief "Bounce Back loan" scheme.

The U.K. Metropolitan Police said in a statement on its website, Thursday, that the convicts Timilehin Olasemo, 39, and Olufumi Akinneye, 33, had already obtained £297,000 (about N157 million) before the remaining amount was stopped by the bank

The statement said the convicts were jailed after they pleaded guilty to the crime before the Southwark Crown Court in London.

According to the statement, Ms Olasemo, of Bedale Road, Romford, was sentenced to three years and two months' imprisonment fo...