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From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Justice Muhammed Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday sentenced 24-year-old Taiwo Oluwapelumi Emmanuel from Ibadan, Oyo State to six months imprisonment over fraud-related offences.
Taiwo’s journey to jail started with his arraignment on a one-count charge by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He allegedly posed as a citizen of the United States to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The defendant was among the suspected internet fraudsters arrested in the Ogbomosho area of Oyo State on October 26, 2021, during a sting operation based on credible intelligence received by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC.
The defendant in his various chats claimed to be a contractor and businessman based in the United States of America, a decoy he employed to swindle his victims.
The charge against him reads:
‘That you, TAIWO OLUWAPELUMI EMMANUEL, sometime between February and March 2021 at Ogbomosho, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did fraudulently impersonate one David Williams George; an American, with the intent to gain advantage for yourself from one Mindy who you chatted, vide your created Gmail; [email protected] and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (I) of the Cybercrime Prohibition prevention Etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.’
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Based on the guilty plea entered by the defendant, counsel to the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the case from the bar and tendered one iPhone X, one Lenovo Laptop and the extra-judicial statement of the defendant as well as fraudulent messages printed from his device, which were admitted in evidence.
Akoja thereafter urged the court to hold that the prosecution has successfully established its case against the defendant and convict him as charged.
In his judgement, Justice Sani said the court was satisfied with the evidence adduced by the prosecution and pronounced Taiwo guilty of the charge.
The judge sentenced the defendants to six months imprisonment with an option of a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and ordered that the iPhone X and Lenovo Laptop, which he used as an instrumentality of the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
