Court Sentences Internet Fraudster To 600hrs Community Service

Court Sentences Internet Fraudster To 600hrs Community Service

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, James Victory Eshiobonameh, to 600 hours Community Service. 

Justice Awogboro passed the verdict after the convict pleaded guilty to a count charge made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), coupled with the review of the fact of the charge by  Buluebre karamor, an investigator with the Commission.

The convict also known as James Victory and Pablo, was alleged to have impersonated one James Victory, bearing same on his Instagram profile and using it to defraud unsuspecting Service providers.

The offence according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, contravened Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2019 and punishable under the same Act. 

The convict pleaded guilty to the charge.

After the Convict’s plea of guilty, the investigator, Buluebre karamor, was called to testify, for the review of fact the charge.

In reviewing the facts of the charge, the investigator told the court that the convict was arrested at an award ceremony organized by some fraudsters, who were celebrating their successfully operations.

She said that upon arresting convict during interrogation admitted being a member of internet fraud group and that they you the group to create a fraudulent Facebook account.
The investigator also told the court how the Convict joined a website called aus.com, a website that provide services for family around the world. And how he posed as an oldman that lives in Texas (USA) and needed assistance.

The EFCC investigator further told the court that the when the convict’s Iphone 9 was analysed, his son was with an America number +1 8573084630 which he used in registering with aus.com, to contact his unsuspecting Service providers to further buttressed his claims that he lives in Texas (USA).

Upon conclusion of the investigator’s evidence, the Convict’s iPhone 9, extra judicial Statement and some documents extracted from the phone were tendered and admitted by the court. While the prosecutor, Mrs. Buhari-Bala, urged the court to sentence him in accordance with Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2019. 

But his counsel, O. Amubikaun, pleaded with the court to tamper Justice with mercy in sentencing his client, as he is a first time offender. 

Amubikaun told the court that the convict has been remorseful since he was detained since last year November and that he has learnt his mistake in a hard way.

Justice Awogboro after listened to the counsel’s submissions, sentenced the convict to 600 hour Community Service.

Justice Awogboro also ordered the Convict to file an affidavit of good behaviour before he can be released. While also ordered that the iPhone 9 recovered from him be confiscated by the Federal government if there is no appeal against the Judgment within the period stipulated by law.

editor

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