The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, January 21, 2022 , secured the conviction and sentencing of one Raji Olasunkanmi to one year imprisonment for possession of fraudulent documents used to perpetrate internet fraud before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Operatives of the Commission, acting on the intelligence, had arrested him along with some other suspected internet fraudsters on August 13, 2021 around the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos.
Following further investigation, he was brought to court and charged with one-count amended charge bordering on possession of fraudulent documents.
He pleaded “guilty” to the amended charge.
The prosecuting counsel, Ebareotu Pereagbe, thereafter, informed the Court of a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and the defence, which was also before the Court.
“We urge the Court to adopt the same,” he said, as he went on to review the facts of the case.
According to him, an iPhone 8 was found on the defendant, which upon analysis indicated that the defendant was engaged in internet fraud.
“Upon interrogation, he admitted that he had benefitted the sum of $1,300 from his victims,” Pereagbe added.
Subsequently, he tendered as exhibits the defendant’s statement to the EFCC, the documents printed out of his device, and a manager’s cheque of N280, 000 issued by the defendant as part of the plea bargain.
The documents were admitted by the Court as Exhibit P to P3.
Thereafter, defence counsel, Pentecost Chukwunalu, prayed the Court to temper justice with mercy.
Consequently, Justice Dada pronounced him guilty as charged and sentenced him to one year in prison.
He was, however, given an option of N1million fine.
The items recovered from him were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.
Upon release from prison, he is to sign a written undertaking not to be involved in crime.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
21 January, 2022
