2 internet fraudsters jailed 14 months each

A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, on Tuesday sentenced two Internet fraudsters to 14 months imprisonment.

In two separate judgments, Justice Uche Agomoh held that she convicted and sentenced Ismail Olugbemiro and Victor Falana based on` `the evidence before her as well as the plea bargain agreement they each had with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’’.

Agomoh held that she considered the provisions of section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 that spelt out how someone who enters a plea bargain agreement must be sentenced in her judgment.

“Let me warn Olugbemiro and Falana that their participation in any form of crime henceforth would attract maximum punishment.

“However, to serve as deterrent to others, Olugbemiro is sentenced to eight months custodian sentence and Falana is sentenced to six months in prison.

“Each of you shall write and sign an undertaking at the EFCC’s office to be of good conduct upon completion of your jail terms.

“The proceeds of crime found in possession of the convicts are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Agomoh held.

Earlier, counsel to the EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, Mr Mabas Maburb and Mr C.A. Okoli had each told the court that the convicts were each arraigned on amended charge bordering on impersonation.

Maburb and Okoli said that the convicts were arrested in August and October in Ibadan, Oyo state in possession of incriminating documents.

According to the prosecutors, Olugbemiro and Falana specialise in deceiving their victims with profiles of famous foreigners so as to gain undue advantage of them.

Maburb and Okoli said that N177,000 cash and 500 dollars were recovered from Olugbemiro while Falana restituted 240 United States of American Dollars.

The prosecutors stated that the offence is contrary to and punishable under section 22(A) and (B) of the Cyber Crime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015.