By Kayode Adeoti
Justice Mahmud AbdulGafar of a Kwara State High Court sitting in
Ilorin on Tuesday, convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster,
Temitope Ajayi Charles to 35 years imprisonment without an option of
fine.
While delivering the judgement on a criminal charge brought against
him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pronounced
the convict guilty and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on
each five count-charge preferred against him.
The Judge maintained that the sentence should run concurrently in all
the five counts charges levelled against him by the anti-graft body.
Justice Gafar agreed that the EFCC had proved its case beyond any
reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence of the only prosecution
witness, Olamide Sadiq who is an operative of the commission was very
strong and reliable.
“The evidence of PW1, Olamide Sadiq was left unchallenged by the
defendant, all the chats and text messages were printed from his email
address in his presence. I have considered the testimonies of the PW1,
this honourable court is of the opinion that the PW1 is a witness of
truth, the Accused Person indeed was in possession of fake documents,
the prosecution has sufficiently link the defendant to the email
address”
The Court however rejected the testimonies of the convict where he
claimed that the Police brought him to the office of the EFCC on the
day of his arrest following his inability to pay the money they
requested for.
“The story of the defendant of being sent to the EFCC because he did
not pay bribe to the police could not hold water, he lied to the
court, I do not believe the evidence of the defendant, the prosecution
has proved this case beyond reasonable doubt, I hereby convict the
defendant as charged”
Earlier, Defence Counsel Barr. Abdulrasheed Babatunde Bakare in his
allocutus urged the court to temper justice with mercy, insisting that
his client is a first time offender.
Prosecuting Counsel, Barr. Sessan Ola opposed the request and asked
the court to sentence the convict according to the provisions of the
Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related Offences act.
Ola said further, “Going by the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud
and other fraud related offences Act, the minimum punishment for this
type of offence is 7 years and maximum of 20 years, the court cannot
use its discretion outside the same”
The court refused the request of the convict and sentenced him to
seven years each of the 5 count charge.
