An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced a man, Ndidi Bobby, to 42 years imprisonment for internet fraud involving obtaining €80,000 under false pretence.
The convict was initially arraigned in December 2021 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.
The prosecution, led by Mr Abdukareem Tukur, later filed an amended six-count charge.
The charge bordered on stealing and possession of fraudulent documents under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, in her judgment, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court consequently convicted Bobby and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on each of the six counts.
The judge, however, ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convict to the Federal Government, having been used as instruments of the crime.
The prosecution told the court that the offences were committed sometime in 2020.
The EFCC said the convict, with intent to defraud, had in his possession fraudulent documents wherein he falsely represented himself as “Prince Louis” to one Sabine Sigrid-Osterlehner.
The anti-graft agency added that the false representation was printed from his phone and Facebook.
It also said the convict, with intent to defraud, stole and dishonestly converted to his own use €80,000, property of Sigrid-Osterlehner.
The convict pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial which commenced on Feb. 11, 2022.
During the proceedings, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits.
The prosecution closed its case on Oct. 12, 2023, after which the convict filed a no-case submission.
The court dismissed the application and ordered him to open his defence.
He later testified as the sole defence witness.
