Court sentences internet fraudster to 4 months in prison

Owoicho who pleaded guilty to the said charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), begged the court for leniency.

Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya sentenced Owoicho without an option of fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes and be of good behaviour.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Chiamaka Njoku told the court that a plea bargain agreement had been signed by the defence counsel, Timothy Istifanus and its terms adopted.

Njoku said the terms of the plea bargain was for the defendant to depose to an affidavit of good conduct and a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment or pay an option of N200, 000 fine.

She also told the court that Owoicho fraudulently impersonated an American citizen, Jesse Phillips through a hangout account with an email address, jesserphilips693@gmail.com sometime in 2021.

The prosecution counsel said Owoicho committed the crime with intent to obtain the sum of 150 euros, adding that the offence contravened section (22) (2) (b)ii of the Cyber Crimes Act 2015.