28th July, 2021
The Economic and Financial Crimes, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office on Wednesday secured the conviction and sentencing of an internet fraudster, David Semilogo Foluwake, before Justice Abike Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence.
The charge reads: “That you, David Semilore Foluwake, sometime in the month of February, 2021, at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents containing false pretence to wit: “Google Account”, wherein you falsely represented yourself as an American with the name Ivan Smith born in 1962, which document you knew to be false and committed an offence contrary to Sections 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
Upon his arraignment today, the convict pleaded “guilty” to the offence.
In view of his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Banjo Temitope, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed that the defendant be convicted as charged.
Justice Fadipe found him guilty of the offence and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.
In a related development, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, today convicted and sentenced a fraudster, Yusuf Quadri, to one year imprisonment.
The convict was arraigned on a one-count amended charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents, an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
The prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, told the Court that the defendant was arrested in Lagos sometime in 2020 by operatives of the EFCC and “was found to be in possession of fraudulent documents, which he used to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”
He, thereafter, tendered in evidence the extra-judicial statement the defendant made to the EFCC, and the incriminating documents printed out from the defendant’s email.
They were admitted by the Court as exhibits 1-4.
Ofoma, therefore, urged the Court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Defence counsel, O. Abraham, however, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy.
Delivering judgment, the Judge found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of fine of N1million.