An Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced a 22-year-old tailor, Kabiru Okeshola, to one year in prison for perpetrating an internet dating scam under the guise of a white woman.
The presiding judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, handed down the sentence at the Correctional Service Centre, Ikoyi, following Okeshola’s admission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charges against him.
Justice Oshodi expressed satisfaction with the defendant’s confessional statement, which solidified his involvement in fraudulent activities.
“Contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, I have convicted you of possessing fraudulent documents through which you have obtained 3,000 USD.
“The funds were used to settle the hospital bill of your late father. You mentioned that you have embarked on a new career as a tailor, and I am inclined to believe you.
“Therefore, you are hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment or a fine of N100,000,” the judge declared.
Furthermore, the judge ruled that the convict’s iPhone 13 Pro and the N300,000 bail, which he refunded to the EFCC, be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria. Okeshola was ordered to be remanded in the custody of the correctional service pending payment of the fine.
During the review of facts, an EFCC operative, Usman Ahmed, informed the court that Okeshola confessed to assuming the identity of a white woman from America on social media to lure individuals with the promise of love and companionship.
“He admitted to receiving $3,000 in installments through a third party to cater to his deceased father.
“The defendant reimbursed a sum of N300,000 to the EFCC recovery fund account. Additionally, an iPhone 13 Pro, used to produce numerous fraudulent documents, was seized from him,” Mr. Ahmed revealed.
Subsequently, all the documents were admitted in evidence by the court, and due to no objections from the defense counsel, Jamal Bashir, Okeshola was convicted and sentenced.
During the allocutus, Mr. Bashir pleaded for leniency, citing Okeshola’s status as a first-time offender who is committed to reforming his ways.
“We implore the court to consider a non-custodial sentence and appeal for leniency,” Mr. Bashir urged. (NAN)
