A Federal High Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, sentenced one Tom Makwe to two years in prison for charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining under false pretense. The suspect was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for swindling a Spaniard of €47,082.
The Prosecution Counsel, Deborah Adamu-Eteh told the court that the convict between December 12, 2021, and November 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 man Diplomatic Solicitor with phone number +34613208672. She said that the convict in that assumed character obtained the sum of €47,082 from one Maria Del Rosario San Jose Garces, a citizen of Spain through a Bitcoin wallet address which the convict created
He, however, admitted the charges and pleaded for leniency. 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 told the court.
Delivering judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Aliyu Ashafa, sentenced the convict to jail for two years with an option of ₦5million. The judge also ordered that the sum of ₦30 million, and $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 also ordered those items recovered from the convict including one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S23, Apple iPhone 13 cellphone and HP EliteBook be forfeited to the government and the proceeds of sell be remitted to the victim through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.
