COURT JAILS MAN 42 YEARS FOR €80,000 INTERNET FRAUD IN LAGOS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
An Ikeja Special Offences Court has convicted and sentenced Ndidi Joshua Bobby to 42 years’ imprisonment for internet fraud involving false identity claims and obtaining money under false pretence.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, who found the defendant guilty on multiple counts of fraud.
Bobby was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on charges bordering on stealing and possession of fraudulent documents involving €80,000.
According to the prosecution, the convict, sometime in 2020 in Lagos, falsely represented himself as “Prince Louis” to defraud a victim, Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner, and dishonestly converted €80,000 to his personal use.
Initially arraigned in December 2021 on a two-count charge, the case was later amended to six counts under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
During the trial, which commenced in February 2022, the prosecution presented two witnesses and tendered documentary evidence. After the prosecution closed its case, the defendant’s no-case submission was dismissed, leading him to open his defence.
In her ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, stating that the evidence clearly established the guilt of the defendant.
The court sentenced Bobby to seven years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, to run concurrently.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convict to the Federal Government, describing them as instruments used in committing the offence.
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