The Gwagwalada Division of the FCT High Court on Thursday sentenced a 19-year-old student, Jayeola Goodnews, to six months’ imprisonment for defrauding an American woman of $540.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Goodnews with one count of fraud.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa gave him an option of a fine of N200,000.

Mr Shafa ordered that the $540 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the federal government through the EFCC.

Earlier, the convict had pleaded with the court for mercy, adding that he regretted his action and promised not to engage in such again.

“I am sorry for committing the crime, and I will not do such again. I was introduced to internet fraud by my cousin, and I promise not to do that again,” he pleaded.

The defence counsel, Nnamdi Akuneto, in support of the allocutus by the convict, told the court that the convict has been remorseful and regrets his actions.

Mr Akuneto pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

The prosecution counsel, Daniel Iloakasia, told the court that the convict and his counsel had entered and signed a plea bargain on May 22.

Mr Iloakasia told the court that the convict defrauded a U.S. citizen, Michelle, of $540 sometime in 2023.

The prosecutor said the convict who presented himself as Lee Kwagsoo, an actor, used the Google account leekwagsoo5-47@gmail.com.

He said the offence contravened section 320(a) and punishment under section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 532 of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In an application, the prosecutor asked the court to order the forfeiture of the $540 recovered from the convict.

(NAN)