A student identified as Emmanuel Victor has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by an Ikeja Special Offences Court for internet fraud.

Victor who is a 100-level University Part-Time student of Computer Science was sentenced on Thursday, 7 March 2024.

Justice Rahman Oshodi sentenced Victor to 18 months’ imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of fraudulent documents, leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Judge, however, gave the convict an option of a four million naira fine.

Oshodi, while delivering the judgment, said he did not believe that the convict committed the offense out of necessity.

He, however, said he would reduce his sentence by 20 percent.

Oshodi stated that the convict would forfeit all items recovered from him, including the phones, ATM card, and the Manager’s cheque, to the Federal Government.

The EFCC counsel, Mr Abubakar Dambua, in his review of facts, informed the court that the Commission received an intelligence report on September 15, 2023, about the fraudulent activities of the convict and others.

Dambua said sequel to the intelligence report received, a raid was carried out and the convict was arrested.

He highlighted the items recovered from him including an iPhone 13 deep blue color, a Samsung phone, an ATM card, a Manager’s cheque, and fraudulent documents, among others.

Dambua, thereafter, sought to tender all items recovered from the convict as evidence before the court.

The Defense counsel, Ms E. A. Ukpai, did not object to the admissibility of items recovered from the convict.

The Judge asked the convict how he did the scam and he told the Court that he created a false account in the name of ‘Agent Fred Smith’ on Facebook.

The convict said: “I asked the unsuspecting victims to apply for the Social Economic Grant Programme and I asked them to pay for processing and delivery.

” I used $7,000 to resettle my family.”

“We used to stay in a plank house and l used the money to provide better accommodations and pay for my school fees.”

“I am sorry for my fraudulent activities and I promise not to go back to crime if given another chance.”

Ukpai said the convict had realized his mistake and had become remorseful.

She further stated that the convict was a first-time offender.

“We pray the court to temper justice with mercy and grant him a noncustodial sentence because his mother is not well,” Ukpai said.

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