The defendants being first-time offenders should be given a second chance, especially as they had already forfeited all proceeds of the crime traced to them, including an iPhone X to the federal government
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two brothers, Solomon and Godspower Nwachukwu before Justice I. U. Bello of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Bwari, Abuja, on separate one-count amended charge, bordering on cybercrime and obtaining money under false pretence.
The brothers were arraigned on Monday.
Prosecution counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, had prayed the court to amend the charge, dated September 27, 2019.
The charge against Godspower said: “That you, Gospower Nwachukwu sometime in April 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently induced one Matthew Scott, a citizen of the United States of America to deliver $1,900 to you through bitcoin online payment and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (Abuja) and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.”
The charge against Solomon stated: “That you, Engr. Nwachukwu Solomon sometime in April 2016 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, fraudulently induced one Janet Allen, a citizen of the United States of America to deliver N230,000 to you via www.linkedin.comand thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (Abuja) and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the amended charges when read to them.
The defence counsel, Abaji Abel did not object to the amended charges but urged the judge to temper justice with mercy as his clients were both remorseful.
He pleaded that the defendants being first-time offenders should be given a second chance, especially as they had already forfeited all proceeds of the crime traced to them, including an iPhone X to the federal government, following a plea bargain agreement.
Justice Bello sentenced the brothers to three years' imprisonment each with an option of N1,500,000 fine to be paid to the EFCC for onward return to their victims through the US Embassy, as restitution.
“The defendants shall also depose to an affidavit of undertaking to be of good behaviour,” the judge added.