JUST IN; Fake Senator sentenced to two years imprisonment
A Federal High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sentenced a fake senator, Tom Makwe to two years imprisonment on Wednesday.
Makwe was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for swindling a Spaniard of 47, 082 Euros.
He was convicted after pleading guilty to a two count charge of intent to defraud over the internet.
Justice Aliyu Shafa, while delivering his judgement also gave him an option of a fine of N5 million.
Shafa directed that the N30 million, and 1,300 dollars recovered from the convict be forfeited to the victim, Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria and evidence of forfeiture be filed through the registrar of the court within two weeks.
He further ordered that items recovered from the convict, including one black Camry 2017 model car, Samsung S 23, Apple iPhone 13 cellphone and HP EliteBook be forfeited to the government and the proceeds of sale be remitted to the victim through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.
Earlier, the convict had pleaded for leniency saying, “I am a changed person and plead with the court to tamper justice with mercy. I will never have anything to do with internet fraud again.”
The Defence Counsel, Adaji Abel in support of the allocutus by the convict pleaded leniency with the court.
Abel noted that the convict was a first-time offender, and had co-operated with the EFCC investigation.
He also added that the convict had made restitution and had provided useful information to the investigator to arrest other fraudsters.
The Prosecution Counsel, Deborah Adamu-Eteh told the court that the convict between December 12, 2021 and November 12, 2022, with intent to defraud over the internet pretended to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan and Senator Tompolo.
Adamu-Eteh revealed that the convict pretended to be a white man, Diplomatic Solicitor with a phone number +34613208672.
