A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Gwagwalada, on Tuesday sentenced a student, Ayomide Oyeneye, to two years imprisonment for defrauding foreigners of 200 dollars.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned the convict on a count charge of fraud.
He pleaded guilty under plea bargain agreement, and begged the court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa warned him to desist from crime and be of good behaviour.
Justice Shafa gave the convict an option of N200,000 fine.
The judge ordered that the instrument used for the crime should be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Earlier, the convict in his plea for mercy, promised to turn a new leaf.
“I am sorry for what I have done, I promise not to do such again,” he said, adding that it was hunger that pushed him into the crime.
According to EFCC counsel, Mr F.O. Dibang, the convict, from January 2023 to October 2023, with intent to defraud, falsely represented himself as one Maddiegrace on his instagram account.
Dibang said that the convict used a female from Texas, US in his profile picture, adding that he sent electronic messages to unsuspecting white men.
He said the white men included Messrs Kacy Reed, Robert Kimble and Kelvin Adams who misinterpreted facts and consequently suffered financial loss of 200 dollars.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the code.
NAN reports that the prosecution counsel told the court that the convict signed the plea bargain agreement on May 3.
Internet fraudster jailed in Abuja over $200 fraud
