Court Sends Internet Fraudster to Jail in Benin
Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court, Benin City, Edo State on Tuesday October 25, 2022 convicted and sentenced Victor Okoh to jail for fraud.
Okoh was arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC, on one count charge bordering on personation.
The charge against Okoh reads: “that you, Victor Okoh between 2021 and 2022 at Sapele Road, off PZ junction Benin City Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently personate the identity of Don Kupar dkhar, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting public and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State ) 1976”.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty prompting the prosecution counsel, KY Bello to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
However, the defence counsel, Dickson Egbewuere pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant has become remorseful for his action.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Okoh to two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
The judge ordered that the defendant’s phone and the sum of Four Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand Forty One Kobo (N474,041) found in his First Bank account be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria and that the account be permanently closed.
Lagos Court Jails Fraudster One Year
Justice O.A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, convicted and sentenced one Olalekan Bolofinde to one year imprisonment.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents, an offence contrary to Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The count reads: “That you, Olalekan Olumide Bolofinde, on or about the 28th day of July 2022 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, has in your possession documents printed from “Google voice app” on your iPhone 11, which representation you knew or ought to have known to be false.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, S.O. Daji, gave a review of the facts, detailing how intelligence report had linked the defendant to the alleged crime.
The statements of the defendant and the items recovered from him were also tendered in evidence against him by the prosecution.
Following the guilty plea of the defendant and the evidence presented before the court, the trial judge found him guilty as charged.
The defence counsel, Opeyemi Labinjo, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the defendant was a first-time offender.
After reviewing all the evidence and submissions of both parties, Justice Okunuga sentenced the defendant to one-year in prison, with an option of fine of N500, 000.
Items recovered from him, including iPhone 11 and HP laptop were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
The defendant was also ordered to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviour and never to engage in any form of economic and financial crimes.
EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged Internet Fraud in Lagos
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, arraigned one Oweleke Bobby Jospeh before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence.
The offence is contrary to Section 6 and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Fraud Offences Act 2006.
One of the counts reads: “Oweleke Bobby Joseph (aka Prince Andrew), on or about the 24th of August 2022 at Lagos , within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, had in your possession documents titled: “Google Account”, where you falsely represented yourself as Prince Andrew and that you were born on February 19th, 1960, which was printed from your iPhone and which document you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, M.S. Owede, prayed the court for a trial date.
The defence counsel, Semilore Onifade, however, informed the court that “we have reached out to the prosecution for a plea bargain”, and so prayed the court for “a short date to perfect the process”.
He further prayed that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC custody in the meantime.
In response, the prosecution also confirmed the position of the defence, with regard to being approached for a plea bargain.
Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the matter till November 18, 2022 “for report and trial”, and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre of his choice
Source: efcc.gov.ng
