Cybercrimes: Court sentences 2 brothers, 1 other to 3 years in prison each

An FCT High Court on Tuesday sentenced two brothers and one other to three years in prison each for online fraud offences.

Delivering judgment, Justice Muawiyah Baba- Idris, sentenced Onjaite and Ogbe Tosan and Saidu Abdulmumin after they pleaded guilty to forgery and obtaining under false pretence.

Baba-Idris ordered that the proceeds from the crime and other things associated with it be forfeited to the Federal Government and the victims.

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The convicts were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission on various online fraud.

This was pursuant to a plea bargain agreement they made individually, with EFCC.

Baba- Idris held that section 270 (11) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act empowers the court to impose heavier punishment other than the one agreed by the parties.

“I have read the plea bargain agreement and it is not inconsistent with the court to adopt the agreement in toto.

“Courts have a duty to enforce the provisions of the Act under which an accused is charged.”

“Cybercrimes are flourishing among the youth to the extent that even secondary school students engage in it” he held.

Baba- Idris said the section in which they were charged which was section 322 provides;

“Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.”