A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada has sentenced a fake senator, Tom Makwe, to two years’ imprisonment for swindling a Spanish of €47,082.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convict on two counts of intent to defraud over the internet.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
Delivering judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa also gave him an option of fine of N5 million.
Shafa ordered that the N30 million, and another $1,300 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the victim, Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces, through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria and evidence of forfeiture be filed through the registrar of the court within two weeks.
He said that the items recovered from the convict, which include one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S 23, Apple iPhone 13 and HP Elite Book be forfeited to the government and the proceeds of their sale be remitted to the victim through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.
Earlier, the convict in his plea for mercy had told the court that he was sincerely sorry for his misconduct and bad character.
“I am a changed person and plead with the court to tamper justice with mercy. I will never have anything to do with internet fraud again,” he pleaded.
The Defence Counsel, Adaji Abel, in support of the allocutus by the convict pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy.
Abel said that the convict was a first time offender, has co-operated with EFCC investigation, made restitution and has provided useful information to the investigator to arrest other criminal fraudster.
The Prosecution Counsel, Deborah Adamu-Eteh, told the court that the convict, between Dec. 12, 2021 and Nov. 12, 2022, with intent to defraud over the internet, pretended to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan and Senator Tompolo.
Adamu-Eteh said that the convict claimed to be a white diplomatic solicitor with phone number +34613208672.
She said that the convict in that assumed character obtained the sum of 47,082 Euros from one Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces, a citizen of Spain, through Bitcoin wallet address which the convict created.
She said that the convict also, between Jan. 13, 2023 and Feb. 3, 2023 obtained the total sum of €9,853 from his victim, a Spanish citizen.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provision of Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
The prosecutor had earlier told the court that the convict has restituted the sum of N30 million, 1,300 dollars, one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S 23, Apple iPhone 13 and HP Elite Book.
She prayed the court that the money and instrument recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC. (NAN)
