Court sentences yahoo boy to five years imprisonment over $400 fraud

A young man identified as Olanrewaju Temitope has bagged five years imprisonment for internet fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the accused on one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren made this known in a statement in Abuja, saying that Temitope was convicted by Justice A.A. Bello.

According to the anti-graft agency, the convict was arrested during a sting operation at his hideout, located on Joel Bala Street, Gbagyi Villa, Kaduna.

It said investigation revealed that Temitope operated a fake Facebook and Instagram account, where he assumed the identity of one Lisa Marie, to defraud unsuspecting victims, mostly American residents, of their hard earned money.

He was sentenced by a High Court sitting in Kaduna State on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 for defrauding victims of $400.

The charge reads: “That you, Olanrewaju Temitope ‘M’, sometimes between January, 2022 and July, 2022 in Kaduna, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Elexis McCrills on Instagram, to deliver to you the sum of $400.

When you portrayed yourself to be Lisa Marie Boothe (a female which you knew you were not) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under Section 309 of the Same Law.”

The yahoo boy pleaded guilty to the charge, and the presiding judge sentenced him to five years imprisonment, with an option to pay N100,000 as fine.

In addition, the convict is to forfeit his phone which was used to commit the crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

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