Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has convicted and sentenced Adenuga Elijah to one year imprisonment for internet fraud.
He was arraigned before Justice Yellim Bogoro by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation and cybercrimes.
The count reads: “ That you Adenuga Elijah (male) on November 12, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, fraudulently held out yourself on Google as Pearl Xavier, with intention to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 of the Cybercrimes (prohibition etc) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid Tukur, called on Adams Adze, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the matter.
Adze told the court that the defendant was arrested sometime in November 2024, following credible intelligence received by the commission on the activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters operating in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
He also stated that an iPhone 12 Pro Max and HP laptop were recovered from him at the point of arrest.
“Upon his arrest, he was duly processed and the defendant volunteered his statement. Investigations were conducted and forensic evidence was printed out from his phone. In his statement, he confessed he was into a dating scam and that he had benefited the sum of $200,” he told the court.
Adze informed the court that the defendant had made restitution of N200,000 via a bank draft.
Tukur, thereafter, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, iPhone, HP laptop and forensic investigation document print out.
They were admitted as exhibits.
The defendant prayed the court for leniency, adding that, “I have started a business and also registered in a polytechnic to further my education”.
Justice Bogoro convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, with an option of N200,000 fine.
The judge also ordered that the bank draft, mobile phone and HP laptop be forfeited to the federal government.
