Justice Patience Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, on Wednesday convicted an internet fraudster, Adebimpe Babajide Quadri, and sentenced him to four months in prison.
Quadri, who operate with the name ‘Angel’ to dupe his victims online, was found guilty of criminal impersonation in a one-count amended charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Ibadan zonal office.
The offence, according to the charge sheet, was contrary to section 22 (4)(b) and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention e.t.c) Act, 2015.
The convict was originally arraigned on April 15, on a four-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence, contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related (offences) Act, 2006 and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related (Offences) Act, 2006.
Quadri pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He was however re-arraigned on May 8, on a one-count charge after entering into a plea bargain agreement with the commission.
He pleaded guilty to the one-count amended charge against him.
In view of his guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Oluwatoyin Owodunni, urged the court to sentence him accordingly.
The presiding judge, Ajoku, convicted him of the offence and jailed him for four months.
According to the judge, the four-month term will run from the day of his arrest on February 13.
Quadri will also forfeit the sum of $400, one Samsung phone and one black Tecno K7 phone to the Federal Government.
