Undergraduate bags four months jail term for impersonation

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Oshogbo, Osun State, on Monday, January 31, 2021, convicted and sentenced one Olasupo Temitayo Ayomide to four months imprisonment for fraudulent impersonation. 

The 21-year-old defendant, who claims to be an undergraduate studying accounting, was arraigned on one count charge by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. 

The defendant had sometime in October 2021 impersonated the identity of Clifford Smith with the intent to defraud one Greshen in contravention of Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under same Act. 

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The charge against Olasupo reads: “That you, Olasupo Temitayo Ayomide ( a.k.a Clifford  Smith  ) on or about 29th-day of October 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be one Clifford  Smith from the United States of America to one Greshen via your Facebook Account (Clifford Smith ) in order to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(2)(b)(i) and punishable under section 22(2)(b) the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.)Act, 2015. 

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. 

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Abdulrasheed Lanre Suleman, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. 

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Olasupo to four months imprisonment. 

The convict was also ordered to restitute the total sum of $280USD (Two Hundred and Eighty United States Dollars) to his victim and forfeits one iPhone 12 Max mobile phone and two Hp Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria, being part of the benefit, he derived from his fraudulent act.