By Adeyanju Esther
On Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwagwalada sentenced 21-year-old student Adakole Peter to one year imprisonment for swindling a Chinese woman out of $50.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Peter on two counts of cheating by impersonation and pretending to be a military personnel.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Aliyu Shafa offered Peter an option of a N150,000 fine.
Shafa also ordered the convict to depose an affidavit of good behaviour and directed that the Redmi cellphone used in the crime be sold, with the proceeds deposited into the Federal Government’s account through the EFCC.
Additionally, the $50 recovered from Peter is to be paid into the Federal Government’s account.
The Prosecution Counsel, I.D. Iloakasia, informed the court that Peter and his counsel had signed a plea bargain on June 10. Iloakasia stated that between April and May, Peter, under the alias Steve M. Marks, deceived Ruth Novick, a Chinese citizen, into giving him $50 worth of gift cards.
Peter then sold these gift cards online for N20,000. Iloakasia noted that the offence contravened Section 321 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation Abuja, 1990, and is punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
Peter pleaded guilty to the charges and begged for leniency, promising the court he had realised his mistake and would not repeat such actions.
“I have repented and realised my mistakes. I plead with the court to temper justice with mercy,” he said.
Defense Counsel Bridget Abang supported Peter’s plea for mercy, urging the court to consider his age and the fact that he was a first-time offender.
The prosecutor had also prayed the court that the money and instrument recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.