Court convicts fake American soldier for fraud

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

Justice Umar Bature of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama on Tuesday convicted one Osahon Scott, who posed as a United States military officer.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction following Osahon’s arraignment on an amended one-count charge bordering on cheating to which the defendant pleaded guilty.

The convict had in pretense of being a United States soldier perpetrated online fraud, the EFCC said.

The count reads: “That you, Osahon Scott (aka Gen. Sgt. Major John Rossi) sometime in 2018 in Abuja, did attempt to commit cheating by posing as United States Gen. Sgt. Major John Rossi, an American soldier deployed to Afghanistan on peace keeping mission and fraudulently induced one Li Sufung to deliver the sum of 20, 000 Yuan.”

According to the EFCC, the money demanded by Osahon was payment for cost of the non – inspection of certificate, a claim that it said is false.

The defendant, the anti-graft agency added committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Section 95 of the Penal Code, explaining that Osahon had on March 4 entered a plea bargain where he pleaded guilty to the charge against him.

Prosecuting counsel, Deborah Ademu-Eteh, thereafter, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, considering the plea bargain.

But, defence counsel, Ochumba Kingsley, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, appealing to the court to “put into consideration that the defendant has been consistent with his custody terms; his health status of being a peptic ulcer patient; the surviving son of a single mother, an aging grandfather and a young man with a bright future ahead who is remorseful of his actions.”

While adjourning to March 19 for sentencing, Justice Bature ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Prison.

Ochumba applied for administrative bail for his client, but this was refused by the court.