Two brothers, Solomon and Godspower Nwachukwu have been
sentenced to three years imprisonment for engaging in internet fraud.
The Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had arraigned them before Justice I. U. Bello
of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Bwari, Abuja, on
separate one-count amended charge, bordering on cyber crime and obtaining money
under false pretence.
Prosecution counsel,
Maryam Aminu Ahmed, had prayed the court to amend the charge, dated September 27,
2019.
The charge against
Godspower reads: “That you, Gospower Nwachukwu sometime in April 2016 at Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this honorable court fraudulently induced one
Matthew Scott, a citizen of United States of America to deliver the sum of
$1,900 (One Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars) to you through bitcoin online
payment and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of the
Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (Abuja) and punishable under
Section 322 of the same law.”
The charge against Solomon reads: “That you, Engr. Nwachukwu
Solomon sometime in April 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this
honorable court, fraudulently induced one Janet Allen, a citizen of the United
States of America to deliver the sum of N230,000 (Two Hundred and Thirty
Thousand Naira) to you via www.linkedin.com and thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 320 (a) of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria 1990 (Abuja) and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the amended charges, when
they were read to them.
Defence counsel,
Abaji Abel did not object to the amended charges, but urged the judge to temper
justice with mercy as his clients were both remorseful. He pleaded that the defendants
being first-time offenders should be given a second chance, especially as they
had already forfeited all proceeds of the crime traced to them, including a
iPhoneX to the federal government, following a plea bargain agreement.
Justice Bello sentenced
the brothers to three years imprisonment each with an option of N1,500,000 fine
to be paid to the EFCC for onward return to their victims through the US
Embassy, as restitution.
“The defendants shall also depose to an affidavit of
undertaking to be of good behavior,” the judge added.
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