A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwagwalada on Thursday sentenced an Internet fraudster, Smart Luter, to one year imprisonment for impersonation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned the convict on one count of cheating by impersonation for pretending to be a Chinese Military personnel.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa, also gave him an option of a fine of N100,000.
He ordered that the Tecno smartphone used as an instrument for the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.
He also said that the forfeited property should be sold by EFCC, and proceed realised be deposited in the government’s account.
He charged the convict to desist from crimes, adding that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to anyone who wants to toe the part of the convict.
Earlier, the convict who was not represented by any counsel had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
“I am sorry for indulging in such a criminal act. I was misled by my friend; I am finding it difficult to go further.
I came to Abuja to look for a job, and in the process, I met a friend who introduced me to internet fraud, which I wanted to use to help my family.
“I am pleading for mercy, I promise to change and be a good citizen,” he pleaded.
The Prosecution Counsel, Gabrielle Ushie in an oral application prayed the court that the instrument (cellphone) used by the convict for the crime be forfeited to the federal government.
Ushie told the court that the convict, sometime in 2024 within the jurisdiction of the court, committed the crime of cheating by impersonation when he pretended to be one Zhang Yola, a Chinese Military personnel.
She said that the convict created a fake foreign number for WhatsApp and benefited the sum of $105 from his victim Muriel Reit.
Ushie said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 321 of the Penal Code and was punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code
