The Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 10, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Ajibola Azeez Ololade before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for offence bordering on possession of documents containing false pretence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He was accused of using fraudulent documents to perpetrate internet fraud.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge, which reads: “Ajibola Azeez Ololade on 11th day of November 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly had in your possession a document containing false pretences to wit “WHATSAPP CONVERSATION” wherein you engaged in a chat with one SOJ for an act of cybercrime which information you knew to be false.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
The prosecuting counsel, Kufre Uduak, thereafter gave a review of the facts against the defendant and prayed the Court to convict him as charged and to sentence him accordingly.
Justice Abike-Fadipe, thereafter, pronounced him guilty as charged and gave him an opportunity to address the Court.
Pleading with the Court to temper justice with mercy, the defendant said: “I appear today because of a mistake I made three years ago.
“I deeply regret my involvement, and I beseech this Court of Law to temper justice with mercy.
“If given a second chance, I will turn a new leave and never engage in such again.”
Following his plea, Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced him to one year in prison, but gave him an option of N500,000 fine with 40hours community service which must be supervised by officers of the Correctional Facility. His iPhone 12 Pro Max and An Apple computer were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.