Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos State on Monday ordered the appearance in court of the mother of a 19-year-old apprentice, Chinonso Udeh, standing trial for alleged cybercrime.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of cybercrime on arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

After the guilty plea, the court reviewed the facts of the case with EFCC counsel, S.I. Suleiman, calling a witness, Abdulraman Mohammed, an operative of the commission.

The witness narrated to the court how the defendant was arrested when EFCC got an intelligence report of a cybercrime syndicate in the Lekki area of Lagos.

He told the court that surveillance of the area was conducted and a sting operation carried out, during which the defendant and others were arrested.

The witness said that an iPhone XR model was seized from the defendant.

According to him, when analysed, some incriminating documents were printed out and the statement of the defendant taken under caution.

The prosecution counsel then tendered pieces of evidence before the court.

There was no objection from defence, and the court admitted and marked the pieces as exhibits A, B and C.

The counsel urged the court to convict the defendant based on his guilty plea and the evidence tendered by the EFCC.

The judge ordered the defendant to enter the dock.

The defendant told the court that he was an apprentice with a painter but resided with a church member.

Asked about his parents, he told the court that he hailed from Onitsha in Anambra State, adding that his mother, Marther Ude, resided at Achaputa Layout in Onitsha.

The judge asked the defendant, “Who is here with you in court?”

In response, the defendant pointed to a young man who sat in the courtroom with braided hair.

Mr Faji then asked the young fellow to introduce himself and his relationship with the defendant.

In response, the young man told the court that he was not related to the defendant but an acquaintance.

“So, at 19, you are not with your parents; nobody followed you to court but your friend with plaited hair? So, should I think this defendant is responsible?” the judge asked.

He then ordered the defendant to ensure his mother would be present in court at the next adjourned date.

The judge said that the teenager would be risking imprisonment if he failed to bring his mother.

“The defendant says his mother lives in Anambra. I hereby order his mother, Marther Ude, of Achaputa Layout, Onitsha Anambra, to be in court on November 1 for further proceedings.

“The defendant is to be in custody of the EFCC. Please give him food,” he said.

The court further held that both the defendant and his mother must come to court with means of identification.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel said the defendant committed the offence between January 27 and April 13.

The teenager was said to have posed as a white man on his Instagram page with the name “Hamdam Fazza,” knowing the same to be false.

The prosecutor said that the defendant did the same with the aim of procuring financial instruments to himself, contrary to the provisions of Section 22(3) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Act, 2015.

The court adjourned further proceedings in the case until November 1. 

(NAN)