21st January, 2022
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Raji Olasunkanmi for internet fraud.
Raji was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for possession of fraudulent documents used to perpetrate internet fraud.
Operatives of the Commission, acting on the intelligence, had arrested him along with some other suspected internet fraudsters on August 13, 2021, around the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos.
Following further investigation, he was brought to court and charged with a one-count amended charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.
He pleaded “guilty” to the amended charge.
The prosecuting counsel, Ebareotu Pereagbe, thereafter, informed the Court of a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and the defence, which was also before the Court.
“We urge the Court to adopt the same,” he said, as he went on to review the facts of the case.
According to him, an iPhone 8 was found on the defendant, which upon analysis indicated that the defendant was engaged in internet fraud.
“Upon interrogation, he admitted that he had benefitted the sum of $1,300 from his victims,” Pereagbe added.
Subsequently, he tendered as exhibits the defendant’s statement to the EFCC, the documents printed out of his device, and a manager’s cheque of N280, 000 issued by the defendant as part of the plea bargain.
The documents were admitted by the Court as Exhibit P to P3.
Thereafter, defence counsel, Pentecost Chukwunalu, prayed the Court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Dada pronounced him guilty as charged and sentenced him to one year in prison. However, he was given an option of an N1 million fine.
The items recovered from him were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Upon release from prison, he is to sign a written undertaking not to be involved in crime.