Man Sentenced To One Year Imprisonment Over Internet Romance Scam

P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, who found him guilty, convicted and sentenced him accordingly.

One of the charges read: “That you, Solomon Martins on or about the 1st day of December, 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently impersonated one ‘John Scott’ white military male from London, United Kingdom, by holding yourself out as such to unsuspecting members of the public via Gmail correspondence and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015″.

He pleaded guilty.

The prosecution counsel, A.O. Mohammed, called on Suleiman Aminu an operative of the EFCC, to present the facts of the matter to enable the Court to sentence accordingly.

Suleiman told the Court that the defendant was arrested sometime in February 2024, following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the activities of some internet fraudsters operating at the Lekki axis of Lagos. He also told the Court that an iPhone 11 was recovered from him at the point of arrest.

“In his statement, he confessed he was into dating scam and benefitted the sum of $1,200,” he said.

The prosecution sought to tender, in evidence, his extrajudicial statements, iPhone 11, bank draft of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) and forensic investigation documents printed out from his mobile devices.

Justice Aneke admitted them as exhibits and convicted the defendant as charged. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N1,500,000 ( One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira ) and 100 hours Community Service.

The judge also ordered that the mobile phone and bank draft of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The convict will remain in custody at the correctional centre pending when he will perfect the option of fine by the Court or he finish the prison sentence as ruled by the Court.