21-Year-Old Jailed For Internet Fraud

By Yusuf Oketola

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun, has sentenced a 21-year-old fraudster, Peter Adeleke to nine months imprisonment for $627 internet fraud.

Justice Peter Lifu of the court convicted and sentenced Adeleke to prison on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to a six-count charge bordering on cyber crime, stealing and impersonation.

Lifu convicted Adeleke on the grounds of plea bargain entered by the defense counsel, Mr. Jimmy Jones with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the matter.

According to Lifu, the sentence would serve as deterrent to others who indulge in cyber crimes.

Earlier, the EFCC’s prosecutor, Mr. Saleh Bashir, had told the court that the convict committed the offences in December 2019, before he was tracked and arrested.

Bashir said the defendant, who claimed to be a female with the name Daniel Joyers, defrauded one Beverley Les of the sum through internet.

He said the defendant also impersonated one Ciera Rogers and used her e-mail to commit fraud.

The Prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 1 (1)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences and 22 (3)(b) of the Cyber Crime Act, 2015.

The defence counsel, Jones had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.