Richard Ginika Izuora
A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC member is to serve a two month jail term after a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday refused to grant him an option of N200,000 fine after being convicted for defrauding an American citizen of 1000 US dollars.
The court rather sentenced the corps member to two months in jail.
The corps member, Ajayi Temitope, was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on charges of cyber crime instituted against him by the federal government.
He was said to have claimed to be a medical doctor to defraud his victim.
The charge read to the accused states,
“That you, disguising as Dr. Joshua, sometimes in 2021 at Gwagwalada, within the jurisdiction of this court, did induce one American citizen 1,000 US dollar through deceit, thereby committed cyber crimes.”
Temitope, after pleading guilty to the charge. the prosecution counsel, Dichi Geshun, urged the court to sentence him based on the plea bargain which outlined an option of 200,000 naira fine for him.
“Having pleaded guilty, we urge my lord to sentence the defendant according to the plea bargain,” Geshun told the court.
Ekwo looked at the corps member in the dock and said: “Remove your facemask! How old are you?” To which Temitope replied, “I am 30 years old.”
“What do you do for a living ?,” the judge asked again.
“Currently, I’m a youth corper. I studied political science and international relations,” Temitope replied.
Ekwo then said since the defendant studied political science in school, he could one day be in public service and declared: This is what you will do if you have an opportunity?
“Do you know how many Nigerians have had to go through dehumanizing conditions overseas because of this act?.”
While reading the sentence, Ekwo held that an option of 200,000 naira fine for such an offense “cannot happen in my court.”
He then pronounced that the “Defendant is sentenced to two months in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Centre beginning from today.
“His Infinix phone and the 500 dollars found with him are hereby forfeited with the federal government.”
