Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, convicted 24-year-old Francis Stephen Oke Eghele for representing himself as a female American to defraud unsuspecting victims.
He was convicted alongside one Adeniyi Adekunle Aliyu from Iworoko, Ado Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State over a similar offense.
The duo of Francis and Adeniyi were arraigned on separate charges by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The duo pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Following their guilty pleas, Anselm Ozioko (Jnr) and Isabel Adeniran who represented the EFCC, urged the courts to convict the defendants based on their pleas and the evidence tendered before it.
In her judgment, Justice Akinpelu sentenced Francis to six months imprisonment each on counts 1 and 2 with the option of a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) on each count. The court also ordered that one Infinix phone, which the convict used to perpetrate the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
In the same vein, Adeniyi was sentenced to six months imprisonment with the option of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only). The court ordered that one Nokia phone, Hp laptop, and Infinix phone used to commit the crime, and the sum of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira Only), which he benefited from the unlawful activities be forfeited to the Federal Government.
