A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a convict, Solomon Martins, a.k.a. “John Scott,” to 12 months imprisonment over cybercrime.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the convict before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on a two-count charge, bordering on impersonating another on Gmail correspondence.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Abbas Muhammed, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered evidence, documents, and other instruments used by the defendant in committing the offence.
The exhibits were admitted by the court.
In his verdict afterwards, Justice Aneke sentenced the convict to a term of 12 months at the correctional service, beginning from the date of sentence, with an option of a N1.5 million fine.
Also, the court ordered that the convict embark on 100 hours of community service.
The court also ordered a forfeiture to the Federal Government of an iPhone 11 device and a Sterling Bank check recovered from the convict.
The prosecutor said the convict fraudulently impersonated John Scott, a white military officer from London, by holding himself out as such through his Gmail correspondence with an intent to gain an advantage for himself and defraud unsuspecting victims.
He also disguised the true source of $1,200, knowing that the funds were derived from unlawful acts.
The offence contravenes the provisions of Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015, as well as Section 18 of the EFCC Act, 2004.(NAN)
