The Gwagwalada Division of the FCT High Court on Thursday sentenced Eze Josiah, an internet fraudster, to two years’ imprisonment for defrauding an American woman of $300.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convict on two counts of cheating by impersonation for pretending to be an American citizen on Facebook.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa also gave him an option of a fine of N500,000.

Mr Shafa ordered the convict to sign an affidavit of good behaviour, adding that the HP laptop and iPhone 8 used to commit the crime would be sold, and the proceeds would be deposited in the federal government’s account.

Earlier, in his plea for mercy, the convict promised not to make the same mistake in his life again and to be of good behaviour.

The defence counsel, J.M. Mafwil, in support of the allocutus by the convict, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Mr Mafwil told the court that the convict was a first-time offender and a young man, adding that the court should consider a lesser sentence or fine when sentencing him.

The prosecution counsel, Idris Haruna, told the court that the convict committed the crime of cheating by personation sometime in January 2024, within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr Haruna said the convict pretended to be Kelvin, an American citizen on Facebook.

He said that the convict in that assumed character fraudulently obtained $200, equivalent to N270,000, through gift cards from one Jessica, an American.

He also said that the convict pretended to be Prisca Helen, an American citizen on Facebook and defrauded another individual, Karlos, an American citizen.

He said the convict in that character fraudulently obtained $100 through a gift card from his victim.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code.

In an oral application, Mr Haruna pleaded with the court that the instruments used for the crime, including an HP laptop and iPhone 8, be forfeited to the federal government.

(NAN)