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The Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a dog breeder identified as Tomiwa Omoteji to two years in prison for Internet fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) Ilorin Zonal Command charged Omoteji on two charges.
Omoteji, 23, of Egbe in Kogi State’s Yaba West Local Government Area, posed as an American, Michael Gregory, using his Gmail account linked to his Hangout account, with the goal of obtaining $2,000 from one Sierra B. Price.
According to the prosecution, the offense, is contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (11) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act.
Count one of the charges read: “That you, Omoteji Tomiwa Stephen, alias Micheal Gregory, sometime in September 2021, in Kwara State, within the judicial division of the Federal High Court, did fraudulently impersonate one Michael Gregory vide your chats, using Gmail [email protected] linked to your Hangout’s number 765-396-8539 with the intent to obtain and did obtain the sum of $2,000 from one Sierra B. Price, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (11) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act 2015, and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.
Upon his plea, counsel for the EFCC, Andrew Akoja, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the fraudulent messages printed from the defendant’s device, including one iPhone 12 Pro Max, a laptop and a Toyota Corolla 2008, which were admitted in evidence.
In his judgment, Justice Muhammed Sani sentenced Omoteji to one-year imprisonment on each of the two counts, which would run concurrently.
He was also given an option of N200,000 fine on each count.
The judge ordered the forfeiture of the items seized from him to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Sani also ordered the convict to restitute the sum of $100, which he benefited from the crime.