BUSTED: Man, 27, sentenced to 42 months in prison for fraud

by ‘Jola Sotubo

 A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison by a court in Lagos after he was found guilty of fraud.

Junior Williams was sentenced by the court sitting in the Ikeja area of the state after being tried on six counts of attempted fraud.

Williams will however spend only 7 months within the walls of a prison as his sentence will run concurrently.

Vanguard reports:

The defendant who resides at Federal Housing Estate, Flat 14, Street 42, Ikpoba Hill, in Benin City had earlier been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and intent to obtain credit in the sum of 300 million euros under false pretence.

The defendant, who is also known as James Smith and James Williams, was said by the anti-graft agency to have conspired to defraud one Redsea Cooperative Hotels of the said sum, by being in possession of document dated May 16, 2013 entitled “Gentleman agreement financial instruments via swift MT199+MT103” purportedly originating from Barclays Bank Plc, 1 Churchhill Place, London.

The EFCC’s prosecutor, Babatunde Sonaike, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 16 2013

He said the offence committed is contrary to Sections 74 and 75 of the Criminal Justice Administration Law of LagosState of Nigeria 2011.

Sonaike further said the defendant attempted to book an online room reservation at Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Lagos also known as Ocean Winds Hospitality for self and his accomplice with stolen credit card No. PAN -49354901096990649 in the name of one James Smith among other charges.

The defendant had entered into plea bargaining agreement with the anti-graft agency dated 28 of October, 2013 and had made full restitution in the sum of N1,490,000.

The defendant counsel, Folakemi Jegede pleaded with the court for leniency for the defendant, pointing out that he had regretted his action and shown remorse and pleaded guilty to the count charges.

She further pleaded with the court to consider the wife and daughter of the defendant who have been psychologically affected by the arrest of the defendant.

In her Judgement Justice Ipaye after considering the guilty plea of the defendant and the plea bargaining entered into and sentenced him to seven months.

The judge however stated that the sentence should commence from May, 17, 2013 when the defendant was remanded in EFCC custody.

 

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