Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Ramon A. Oshodi of a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja earlier today (14 June 2023) convicted and sentenced Abbas Olanrewaju to a one-year jail term but with an option of N100,000 fine.
Abbas Olanrewaju’s conviction and sentencing is sequel to his guilty plea to a one-count amended charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.
The count reads: “Abbas Odebiyi Olanrewaju on or about the 19th of October 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents printed from your WhatsApp number 07015605700 which representation you knew or ought to have known to be false.”
Following his guilty plea, counsel for the prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Umar Kyari, prayed the court for permission to render a review of the facts against the defendant.
According to Kyari, the defendant was among a number of suspected cybercriminals arrested at the Baruwa, Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State.
“He was arrested on 19th October 2021 alongside others and under interrogation, he admitted to engaging in dating scam and identity theft,” he said.
According to the prosecutor, he confessed that he usually disguised himself as a female, with many of his targets being in Australia.
An iPhone 8, he said, was recovered from the defendant, which was the proceeds of the crime, from where he benefited more than N400,000 and $100.
The prosecution thereafter tendered in evidence his extra-judicial statement of the defendant, the fraudulent documents printed out from his device, the manager’s cheque of N400,000 issued as restitution, and the iPhone.
There was no objection from the defence and they were all admitted as exhibits against the defendant.
The prosecutor then prayed the court to convict him as charged and that the manager’s cheque and phone recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Defence counsel, Kayode Okimoba, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy and to give the defendant a second chance.
“He is also a first-time offender who has regretted his action and promised never to go back to it,” he added.
The defendant, who was also given an opportunity to address the court, pleaded for mercy.
Thereafter Justice Oshodi sentenced him to a one-year jail term, with an option of N100,000 fine. Items recovered from him were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Eighteen-Eleven Media