Judge rejects plea bargain, sends internet fraudster to jail

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

Apparently disgusted by the negative effect the activities of internet fraudsters impose on Nigeria’s image, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division on Monday rejected the terms of plea bargain presented on behalf of Oladimeji Omotola Abiola, an internet fraudster.

Instead of the six -month prison term proposed in the plea bargain agreement, the judge sentenced Oladimeji to one -year imprisonment, saying too liberal sentencing would not achieve deterrence which was meant to be the spirit of the law against crimes.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan zonal office, arrested Oladimeji alongside his other colleagues at their hideout in Ibadan on February 4 for internet fraud.

He was thereafter, arraigned on February 19 when he pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge of false pretense, possession of fraudulent documents and knowingly sending indecent, offensive and pornographic pictures preferred against him.

At the resume hearing, Prosecution Counsel, Shamsuddeen Bashir informed the court of the plea bargain agreement between Oladimeji and the EFCC and urged the court to accept same as he called upon his client to plea to the amended charge presented to the court.

The main thrust of the plea bargain agreement states that Abiola be sentenced to six –months imprisonment with effect from the date of his arrest and that the sum of $360 already returned by him during investigations be restituted to the victim through the federal government.

He pleaded guilty to the one-count amended charge when it was read to him.

The presiding judge consequently convicted and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment in view of the prevalence of the crime in the society, saying that “this is to serve as deterrent to others.”

Similarly, the commission’s Ibadan zonal office has arraigned one Yusuf Babatunde, an internet fraud suspect before Justice P. I Ajoku of the Federal High Court 1, Ibadan.

Yusuf was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on cyber-crime and impersonation. The offences are contrary to Section 1(3), Section 22 (3) (a) of the Cyber-crime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the said Act.

One of the charges reads: “That you Yusuf Babatunde (a.k.a John Ben, Lilian John) sometimes in December, 2018, in Ibadan, Oyo state with the intent to defraud did possess documents in your google account with email lilianjohn0147@gmail.com and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Sections 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the said Act.

After pleading not guilty to the charges, the EFCC lawyer, Ibe Kute, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, counsel to the accused, Jimoh Babatunde, presented a bail application on behalf of his client, arguing that the offence was bailable. The application was declined.

Justice Ajoku adjourned the case to June 5 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Agodi Prison pending the determination of his case.