COURT JAILS MAN 50 YEARS IN LAGOS FOR £15,000 ONLINE FRAUD INVOLVING FAKE MOVIE CLAIM
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced one Osaibovo Charles to 50 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a British woman of £15,000 under the guise of a movie production sponsorship.
Justice Ismail Ijelu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, after finding Charles guilty on multiple counts including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents, and money laundering.
Charles was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate I of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge. He reportedly impersonated a well-known Nigerian actor, Fredrick Leonard, and deceived the victim, Miss Shenika Garati, into believing the money was required to fund a film project in Nigeria.
One of the charges revealed that in June 2022, Charles and another individual, now deceased, conspired to fraudulently obtain £38,000 from Garati. Another count accused him of concealing the illegal origin of £15,000 transferred between February and August 2022.
Despite pleading not guilty, the court found that the prosecution, led by EFCC counsel T.J. Banjo, successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Two witnesses were called by the prosecution, and several documents were admitted into evidence.
In the verdict, Justice Ijelu ruled: “The court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant is found guilty as charged.”
He was sentenced as follows: 14 years for conspiracy to obtain by false pretence
14 years for obtaining money by false pretence
5 years for stealing
14 years for possession of fraudulent documents
3 years for money laundering
All sentences are without an option of fine and will run concurrently, amounting to 50 years’ imprisonment. Charles was, however, discharged and acquitted on the count of retention of proceeds of crime.
The court also ordered restitution of £15,000 to the victim, Miss Shenika Garati.
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