A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada has sentenced Tom Makwe, a fake senator, to two years imprisonment for swindling a Spanish national out of 47,082 Euros.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Makwe on two counts of intent to defraud over the internet.
He pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa sentenced him to two years in prison but allowed an option of a ₦5 million fine. Shafa ordered that ₦30 million and $1,300 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the victim, Maria Del Rosario San Jose Garces, through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria, with proof of forfeiture to be filed within two weeks.
The judge also ruled that items recovered from the convict, including a 2017 black Camry, a Samsung S23, an Apple iPhone 13, and an HP EliteBook, be forfeited to the government. The proceeds from their sale should be remitted to the victim via the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.
Earlier, the convict expressed remorse and apologized for his actions.
“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,” he pleaded.
The Defence Counsel, Adaji Abel, supporting the convict’s plea for leniency, requested the court to temper justice with mercy. Abel noted that the convict was a first-time offender, had cooperated with the EFCC’s investigation, made restitution, and provided valuable information leading to the arrest of other fraudsters.
Prosecution Counsel, Deborah Adamu-Eteh, detailed that between December 12, 2021, and November 12, 2022, the convict, pretending to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan, and Senator Tompolo, with the intent to defraud, claimed to be a white Diplomatic Solicitor using the phone number +34613208672. In this assumed identity, he obtained 47,082 Euros from Maria Del Rosario San Jose Garces, a Spanish citizen, through a Bitcoin wallet he created.
The offense contravened Section 321 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
The prosecutor informed the court that the convict had already restituted ₦30 million, $1,300, a 2017 black Camry, a Samsung S23, an Apple iPhone 13, and an HP EliteBook. She requested that these funds and items be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
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