- By Akinbobola Olamilekan and Eunice Ainetor
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Special Offences Court yesterday sentenced one Nonso Ekeocha to one year imprisonment for possessing fraudulent documents.
The charge was brought against him by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).
The count against the convict stated: “That you Nonso Joseph Ekeocha, on or about the 27th June, 2024 in Lagos, with intent to defraud had in your possession, ‘Instagram Profile Account’ wherein you represented yourself as Ronald Gregory, and other related documents for an online Dating scam, which you knew or ought to know to be false.”
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following this, prosecuting counsel, I. G. Akhanolu, prayed the court to allow him to call his witness to review the facts of the case.
The witness, Ismail Saifullahi, an operative of the EFCC, said the defendant was arrested on June 29, 2024 alongside other fraudsters who engaged in computer-related fraud in Lagos.
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He said upon his arrest, he was brought to the EFCC office.
He listed items recovered from him to include one iPhone 12 pro max and Samsung S-10 phone.
He said the phones were analysed through forensic examination, and that the analysis indicated fraudulent documents showing that the convicts were involved in an online dating scam in which represented himself as a male American named Ronald Gregory.
He said the defendant informed the commission that he usually carries out these activities online by sending love messages randomly to the public and those who gain interest in a relationship were asked for financial assistance.
Akhanolu, thereafter, applied to tender, in evidence, his extrajudicial statement and fraudulent documents printed out from his mobile device.
Justice Fadipe admitted them as exhibits and convicted him.