$3,600 Scam: EFCC Secures Conviction of Internet Fraudster
Justice Venchak S. Gaba of the Federal High Court Kwali, FCT, Abuja, on Thursday, June 20, 2019, sentenced and convicted one Okosun Barry Azeta to two months imprisonment for defrauding one Jaime, a Mexican to the tune of $3,600 (Three Thousand, Six Hundred Dollars), after he pleaded guilty" to the charges.
Okosun Barry Azeta (a.k.a. Rory Collinan) was arraigned before Justice Gaba on a two count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC.
He is alleged to have fraudulently induced one Jaime (A Mexican) and received the sum of $2000 (Two Thousand dollars) and $1600 (One Thousand Six Hundred Dollars at different times.
One of the counts reads: "That you, Okosun Barry Azeta (aka Rory collinan), sometime in 2016, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulent induced one Jaime (A Mexican) to deliver the sum of $2000 Dollars (Two thousand Dollars) via Western Union Money transfer and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 320(a) of the penal code, laws of the Federal of Nigeria (Abuja)".
During proceedings today, Thursday 20, 2019, the prosecution counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, notified the judge that there were errors in the charges adding that in "Count 1, on line 3, that instead of the sum of "$2000 Dollars, the charges read "2000000 Dollars" while the Second Count also in line 3, mentioned 1600000 Dollars", instead of 1600 Dollars"
After the charges were corrected and read to the defendant, he "pleaded guilty" to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, however, told the court that the defendant had entered into plea bargain and that both counsels have reached an agreement on the case.
Prosecution counsel urged the court to adopt the plea bargain agreement made before the honourable court on June 19 2019, while the defence counsel, Adaji Abel, pleaded with the court to do justice to the convict arguing that he saved the time of the court by not "pleaded not guilty" as he cooperated during the investigation.
He also added that the court should grant the convict, the opportunity to write his examination.
Justice Gaba, after listening to the plea arguments entered by the two counsels, sentenced and convicted the defendant to two months jail term.
