Court sentences internet fraudster to 6 months imprisonment after plea bargain

A Federal High Court on Friday sentenced an internet fraudster, Toba Agbanah, to six months imprisonment for internet fraud of N21.1 million.

Delivering judgment, Justice Patricia Ajoku, convicted and sentenced Agbanah after he pleaded guilty and subsequently went into a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

“This judgment is in line with the provisions of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 that provides for anyone that enters a plea bargain agreement to be given a reduced sentence.

“However, to serve as warning to others intending to go into similar anti-social behavior, the convict is sentenced to six months in prison.”

“All the exhibits found in his possession are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the Judge said.

Earlier, Dr. Benedict Ubi, counsel to the EFCC, Ibadan zonal office had told the court that the convict was arraigned on a-count amended charge bordering on impersonation.

Ubi further stated that Agbanah committed the crime over a period of time, but was first arrested on Oct. 3 2019, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the prosecutor, the convict successfully impersonated and defrauded unsuspecting foreigners from the U.S. through his a fictitious email address.

He added that N12.1 million was sent into his First, Guarantee Trust and Eco bank account through Western Union Money Transfer.

He further said that other proceeds of the crime include Avenza and a Toyota, laptops, different sophisticated phones and a TV set.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 22A (B) of the Cyber Crime Prohibition Act 2015.

Agbanah was originally arraigned on a 30-count charge bordering on unlawful impersonation, forgery, and stealing.