An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced an
unemployed man, Lawal Sholaru to six months imprisonment for
defrauding an American, Mr David Geobel, of $1,200 in an online
scam.
Justice Mojisola Dada who handed down the judgment however gave
the convict an option of N100,000 fine for defrauding Geobel.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on March
18 charged the convict for a lone charge of obtaining money by
false pretences.
The convict, Sholaru, pleaded guilty and was convicted as
charged by the court.
The court thereafter adjourned for facts and sentencing while he
was remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional center.
Judgment in the matter was however delayed due to the lockdown
arising from the ravaging Coronavirus Pandemic.
Delivering the judgment online during a virtual proceeding
yesterday, Justice Dada noted that the convict did not waste the
time of the court and had been remorseful.
“The timeous plea of guilty of the defendant is very impressive
and commendable, he has exhibited great remorse for his action.
“He has also unwittingly spent about two months in custody. In
the interest of justice, the defendant is hereby sentenced to six
months imprisonment”, she said.
Justice Dada said the sentence will commence from March 18, 2020
when he was first remanded in custody.
Justice Dada also ordered that the convict shall forfeit his
vehicle and any other property recovered from him by the EFCC as
proceeds of crime to the federal government.
“He shall undertake to be of good behaviour and never to be
involved in any other crime. This is the judgment of the court,”
she said further said.
Following the judgment, the defence counsel Mr Kunle Aina,
thanked the court.
Earlier during the proceedings, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Samuel
Daji gave a brief summary of the facts of the case.
Daji told the court following am intelligence report received by
the commission, the convict was arrested on March 8, 2020 at Lakers
Club, Ikorodu, Lagos on suspicion of engaging in internet
fraud.
He said the convict made a confessional statement in which he
admitted that he defrauded a US citizen, one Mr David Geobel to the
tune of $1,200.
“He also admitted to representing himself as one Alicia
White.
“Further investigations were carried out on the defendants email
address and fraudulent documents where the defendant represented
himself as an American General were uncovered,” he said.
The EFCC prosecutor, during trial, tendered to the court the
defendant’s confessional statements dated March 8 and 11 as well as
the alleged fraudulent documents found in Sholaru’s possession.
He said the documents were admitted as exhibits.
“Investigations revealed that the defendant had no other source
of livelihood other than internet fraud and his car was bought from
the proceeds of crime,” Daji added.
An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced an
unemployed man, Lawal Sholaru to six months imprisonment for
defrauding an American, Mr David Geobel, of $1,200 in an online
scam.
Justice Mojisola Dada who handed down the judgment however gave
the convict an option of N100,000 fine for defrauding Geobel.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on March
18 charged the convict for a lone charge of obtaining money by
false pretences.
The convict, Sholaru, pleaded guilty and was convicted as
charged by the court.
The court thereafter adjourned for facts and sentencing while he
was remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional center.
Judgment in the matter was however delayed due to the lockdown
arising from the ravaging Coronavirus Pandemic.
Delivering the judgment online during a virtual proceeding
yesterday, Justice Dada noted that the convict did not waste the
time of the court and had been remorseful.
“The timeous plea of guilty of the defendant is very impressive
and commendable, he has exhibited great remorse for his action.
“He has also unwittingly spent about two months in custody. In
the interest of justice, the defendant is hereby sentenced to six
months imprisonment”, she said.
Justice Dada said the sentence will commence from March 18, 2020
when he was first remanded in custody.
Justice Dada also ordered that the convict shall forfeit his
vehicle and any other property recovered from him by the EFCC as
proceeds of crime to the federal government.
“He shall undertake to be of good behaviour and never to be
involved in any other crime. This is the judgment of the court,”
she said further said.
Following the judgment, the defence counsel Mr Kunle Aina,
thanked the court.
Earlier during the proceedings, the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Samuel
Daji gave a brief summary of the facts of the case.
Daji told the court following am intelligence report received by
the commission, the convict was arrested on March 8, 2020 at Lakers
Club, Ikorodu, Lagos on suspicion of engaging in internet
fraud.
He said the convict made a confessional statement in which he
admitted that he defrauded a US citizen, one Mr David Geobel to the
tune of $1,200.
“He also admitted to representing himself as one Alicia
White.
“Further investigations were carried out on the defendants email
address and fraudulent documents where the defendant represented
himself as an American General were uncovered,” he said.
The EFCC prosecutor, during trial, tendered to the court the
defendant’s confessional statements dated March 8 and 11 as well as
the alleged fraudulent documents found in Sholaru’s possession.
He said the documents were admitted as exhibits.
“Investigations revealed that the defendant had no other source
of livelihood other than internet fraud and his car was bought from
the proceeds of crime,” Daji added.