Man jailed 42 years for internet fraud
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced a man, Ndidi Joshua Bobby, to 42 years’ imprisonment for internet fraud. The conviction followed the convict’s prosecution by
- By Adebisi Onanuga and Olakanse Olamide
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of an Ikeja Special Offences Court has sentenced a man, Ndidi Joshua Bobby, to 42 years’ imprisonment for internet fraud.
The conviction followed the convict’s prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Lagos, on charges bordering on stealing to the tune of €80,000 and possession of fraudulent documents.
The defendant was first arraigned before the court in December 2021 on a two-count charge.
The prosecution, led by L. A. Tukur, later filed an amended six-count charge dated July 2, last year, under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges prompting a full trial which commenced on February 11, 2022.
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During the proceedings, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits.
The prosecution closed its case on October 12, 2023, after which the defendant filed a no-case submission.
The court however dismissed the application and ordered him to open his defence.
He subsequently testified on his own behalf.
Delivering judgment in the matter yesterday, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on each of the six counts.
The judge said the sentences would run concurrently.
The court in addition, ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convict to the Federal Government of Nigeria, having been used as instruments of the crime.
One of the counts reads: “Indidi Joshua Bobby sometimes in 2020, with intent to defraud had in your possession fraudulent documents wherein you falsely represented yourself as Prince Louis to Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner, which representation was printed from your phone and Facebook”.
Another count reads:
“You Indidi Joshua Bobby sometimes in 2020, with intent to defraud stole, dishonestly converted to your use the sum of €80,000,000 properties of one Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner.”
