A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced one Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju, who was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on identity theft and impersonation, to two years imprisonment.
Following his arraignment in court before the presiding judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, he pleaded “guilty” to the charges, which are contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015.
In light of the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecution lawyer, Babatunde Sonoiki, reviewed the facts of the case before the court, called a witness, and presented documents to support the defendant’s guilt.
On August 15, 2023, Justice Oweibo found him guilty of the offence and sentenced him to two years in prison, with the option of a fine of N200,000.00 (two hundred thousand naira).
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The judge ordered the victim to forfeit the sum of $22,000 (twenty-two thousand US dollars) as well as the N500,000 (five hundred thousand Naira) manager’s check recovered from the convict.
The convict’s mobile devices and gadgets were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.