An Iwo -road Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday sentenced a 20- year old man, Abiodun David to six years imprisonment with hard labour for impersonating a Nigeria customs personel.
David,who had been parading himself has an officer in charge of auction in the Nigerian Customs service ,was charged on a nine -count of obtaining money under false pretence, fraudulence conspiracy, stealing ,forgery and impersonation
The accused person had earlier pleaded not guilty to the nine counts charge with Charge No: Mi/509c/20178
The prosecutor,Sunday Ogunremi told the court that the accused and others now at large on 13th September, 2018 around Akingbade area Ibadan in Ibadan magisterial district did consipire together to impersonate and obtain money under false pretence
Ogunremi said David and others now at large on the same date,time and place did fraudulently obtain the sum of N275,000.00 from one Mrs.Olofiniade Olusayo with pretext to supply her fairly used clothes called “Akube”
He said that the accused claimed to be in charge of auction in the Nigeria custom service having known same to be false. Adding that the David also forged Nigeria custom car clearance document having known same to be false
The Prosecutor said that the accused and others still at large sometimes in May 2018 around Egbeda area in Ibadan of Ibadan fraudulently obtain the sum of N 805,000.00 from one Babalola Tunde with pretext to supply him a Toyota Highlander and converted the money to his personal use
Ogunremi also told the court that the accused and others now at large on 17th October 2018 around Oluwo Masopa area Ibadan fraudulently obtain the sum of N 200,000,00 from one Ezekiel Ojo with pretext to supply him a Volkswagen Golf s/car and converted the money to his personal use
The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 516,419,108(2),467,390(9),419, of the Criminal Code vol.II laws of Oyo State Nigeria
David however prayed the court to temper justice with mercy,claiming that it was lack of job that pushed him into committing the offence.
He vowed never to commit such an offence again if the court should pardon him and set him free
In his ruling the magistrate, Mr. Taiwo Oladiran expressed worries about the frequency of the Internet fraud,saying this had had negative effect on the image of the country.
Consequences ,the Magistrate said he would not grant the prayer of the accused for pardon so as to serve as deterrent to others with motives
Oladiran thereafter sentenced the David to six years imprisonment with hard Labour ,with three years each on Counts one and two
He said that the convict will however run his the jail term concurrently
