Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba has convicted and sentenced one Oliseh Emeka to prison for fraud.
The judge sentenced the convict on Thursday March 23, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement.
Emeka was arraigned by the Benin Zonal Command of EFCC on one count charge of impersonation and attempting to obtain by false pretence.
He was accused of impersonating the identity of Jeffrey Scott with intent to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Upon arraignment the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel, F. A. Jirbo, to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
However, the defence counsel, G. O. Okoro, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, explaining that the defendant was a first time offender and had become remorseful for his action.
Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.
The defendant is also to forfeit the phone recovered from him as an instrument of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour forthwith.