Lagos: Internet fraudster bags nine months jail term for $30,000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  Lagos Zonal Office, has secured the conviction and sentencing of an internet fraudster, Mabifah Quzeem Abayomi, before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of a Special Offence Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

The convict was arraigned Wednesday, March 24, 2021, on a one-count charge of possession of documents containing false pretence.

The charge reads: “That you, Mafibah Quzeem Abayomi, about the 21st of January, 2021 in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession documents and fraudulent chats, which contain false pretence you knew or ought to know to be false and committed the offence of possession of documents containing false pretence contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Ayanfe Ogunsina, reviewed the facts of the case.

Ayanfe told the court that Abayomi was involved in internet fraud by infiltrating accounts of persons with United States banks.

The prosecution counsel also revealed to the Court that the convict defrauded his unsuspecting victims to the tune of $30,000 (Thirty Thousand US Dollars), using 10 credit cards.

Ayanfe further tendered the convict’s statement to the Commission, where he confessed to the crime.

Consequently, Justice Abike-Fadipe convicted Abayomi as charged and sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, adding that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others.

The Judge also ordered the forfeiture of his mobile devices and the 2 IPads that were found on him to the Federal Government of Nigeria.