An Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced a middle aged man, Yusuf Olawale, to six months imprisonment for possession of fraudulent documents.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in sentencing the convict, however, gave him an option to pay N150, 000 fine.
Delivering the judgment, Taiwo held thus: “I have considered the plea of the defence counsel and sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment or a fine of N150, 000.
“The defendant is to restitute the sum of N200, 000 and forfeit iPhoneX and iPhone 6plus to the Federal Government,” the judge ruled.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC), counsel, Mr Nnaemeka Omewa, had on July 22, arraigned Olawale over possession of fraudulent chats in pretext to defrauding his victims.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Korede Oyedele, in his plea, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
Oyedele said that the defendant was a first-time offender, was remorseful and had exhibited good conduct since his arrest on April 29.
Oyedele argued that his client had a whole life ahead of him and pleaded for mercy from the court.
Olawale was arraigned on a charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence contrary to section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Similarly, the Police in Osun on Monday arraigned a 60-year-old man, Lasisi Folorunsho, before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court for alleged N120,000 fraud.
The prosecutor, Insp Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in January in Arubidi Area of Ile-Ife.
Abdullahi said that the defendant obtained the sum of N120, 000 from one Ibiyemi Sunday, with the pretext to lease his cocoa farm to Sunday which he failed to do.
He said that the defendant by his act stole the sum of N120, 000 belonging to Sunday and converting same to his own use.
The prosecutor stated that the offence contravened Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of fraud and stealing levelled against him.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Philip Fasanmoye, applied for bail for the defendant in the most liberal term, and promised that his client would not jump bail, but would provide substantial surety.
Magistrate A. I. Oyebadejo granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.
Oyebadejo ruled that the surety must swear to affidavit of means, resides within the court’s jurisdiction, and be gainfully employed.
He added that the surety must attach three recent passport photographs to the affidavit.
The magistrate adjourned the case until Aug. 27 for hearing.
