The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 secured the conviction of one Mobuse John, before Hon. Justice M S. Sifawa, Chief Judge of the Sokoto State High court sitting in Sokoto, on a one-count charge bordering on Cheating.
The one-count charge reads; “That you Mobuse John, sometime in October, 2019 at Sokoto within the judicial division of the High Court of Justice of Sokoto State, committed an offence to wit: Cheating by fraudulently inducing one Usman Ibn Umar to deliver to you the sum of N2,000.00 for PTDF scholarship, past question papers and aptitude test for undergraduate and post-graduate awards in Nigeria Collages of Education, Polytechnics and Universities for 2019/2020 Academic season via a website: http:11 www,pdfscholarship.eu and other members of the public and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 310 (a) of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law 2019 and punishable under Section 311 of the same Law”.
Upon arraignment, John pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of Defendant’s plea, the prosecution counsel, S. H. Sa’ad asked the court to convict and sentence the defendant in line with the provision of the law and prayed the court to close the website as well as the account used in committing the offence.
However, defence counsel, Shamsu A. Dauda, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a first-time offender who has become remorseful. He also told the court that the convict has fully restituted the victim.
Justice Sifawa, thereafter convicted and sentenced the defendant to Ten (10) years imprisonment with an option of fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00).
He further ordered the account and website of the convict to be closed.
The convict’s journey to prison started on the 29th of August, 2019 when he was arrested in Warri, Delta State. He was alleged to have defrauded his victims with a fraudulent online PTDF Scholarship for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards in Nigeria Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and universities for 2019/2020 Academic Session.
Upon his arrest, John admitted to receiving over N1, 500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from unsuspecting victims across the country using one Martha Okotie’s account as a conduit for receiving the monies.
In a related development, Justice Sifawa convicted and sentenced one Etsano Amatu to Seven years in prison with an option of fine in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00).
Amatu was arraigned on a one count charge of Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 300 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 301 of the same law.
Upon arraignment, Amatu pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of defendant’s plea, the prosecution counsel, S. H. Sa’ad asked the court to convict and sentence the defendant in line with the Penal Code Law of Sokoto State.
Defence counsel, Dauda, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a student and a first-time offender who has become remorseful. He also told the court that the defendant has fully restituted the victim in the sum of N45, 000.00
Justice Sifawa, thereafter convicted and sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira)
His journey to the Correctional Centre started when the EFCC received a petition against him alleging cheating to the tune of N45,000.00 (Forty Five Thousand Naira).
Amatu was arrested in Sapele, Delta state for fraudulently collecting the sum of N45, 000.00 from one Dalhatu Ladan with the guise of selling him an Apple Laptop.
The complainant alleged that since after paying the said sum to the account provided to him, neither was the laptop delivered nor his funds refunded.
In the course of investigation, the suspect confessed that he had no laptop for sale and that he only duped the complainant.
The sum of N45,000.00 (Forty-Five Thousand Naira) has been recovered from the suspect.
Tony Orilade
Acting Head, Media & Publicity
