Lagos court jails man 50 years over £15,000 scam

A man, Charles Osaibovo, was on Tuesday convicted and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, for defrauding a foreign woman of £15,000

Osaibovo impersonated popular Nigerian actor, Fredrick Leonard, to deceive his victim, Miss Shenika Garati, into sending the money under the pretence that it was needed for a movie production in Nigeria.

Justice Ismail Ijelu handed down the verdict after finding him guilty of the offences brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had arraigned the convict on six counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents, and money laundering.

Osaibovo pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by T. J. Banjo called two witnesses and submitted several documents in evidence, while the defence presented one witness.

While delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu found Osaibovo guilty and held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“Having reviewed the evidence, the court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is found guilty as charged,” the judge ruled.

The court handed down the following sentences: 14 years for conspiracy, 14 years for obtaining money by false pretences, five years for theft, 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents, and three years for money laundering.

The judge held that all sentences are to run concurrently, totalling 50 years, with no option of fine.

Osaibovo was, however, acquitted on one of the charges relating to the retention of proceeds of crime.

The court also ordered that Osaibovo refund the £15,000 to the victim.

EFCC had, during the arraignment of the convict, told the court that Charles Osaigbovo and Charles Evans Osaigbovo (deceased) had, in June 2022, in Lagos, conspired and obtained the sum of £38,000 by false pretence from Garati.

The prosecution counsel, Banjo, had also told the court that Osaibovo, sometime between February and August 2022, in Lagos, transferred the aggregate sum of £15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Pounds) derived directly from his illegal activity by concealing the illegal origin of the same.