Kemisola Oye
A Lagos Special Offences Court earlier today sentenced a 20-year-old undergraduate, Ganiyu Alabi, to one year and two months imprisonment for engaging in a Facebook love scam.
Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Alani, following his plea bargain agreement, to the charge of possession of fraudulent documents.
Justice Oshodi, in his judgment, held that he had considered the effect of cybercrime, which damaged Nigeria’s international reputation.
He also held that he had taken into consideration the timely plea bargain entered into by the defendant which had saved judicial time and resources.
The judge, however, held that he did not believe the defendant was genuinely sorry because he lied to the court.
According to the court: “I do not believe you are genuinely sorry because you lied to this court that you started internet fraud this year whereas in your confessional statement, it showed you started in 2023.
“Having convicted you of the charge of possession of fraudulent documents, I hereby sentence you to one year and two months imprisonment or pay an N1 million fine.
“You shall also serve two months of community service with the Lagos State Community Service Unit, and a report of activity shall be submitted at the end of the service.
“You shall also be registered as an offender in the state.”
Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Ahmad Usman, in his review of facts, informed the court that the convict was arrested in a sting operation in Lekki sometime in April.
Usman told the court that the convict had in his possession fraudulent documents in which he represented himself as one Leana Decker, a white female to unsuspecting members of the public.
He submitted that the convict, in his confessional statement, admitted to having engaged in a dating scam via Facebook in which he had benefited 1000 USD.
The prosecutor further tendered bundles of fraudulent documents which were tendered in evidence following no objections from the defence.
The prosecution also told the court that the convict had restituted the sum of N500,000 to the anti-graft agency.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Section 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Eighteen-Eleven Media