Fake founder of Facebook, ‘Mark Zuckerberg’ bags jail term in Nigeria
A fake founder of Facebook, Jatto Sheriff Umar, who posed as ‘Mark Zuckerberg’ in order to defraud unsuspecting victims via online relationship, was on Wednesday convicted and sentenced to prison for offences bordering on impersonation and cybercrime.
Penpushing reports that, Head Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Wilson Uwajaren made this known in a statement, adding that the convict, was arraigned before the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin,
The statement said Justice Abdulgafar sentenced him to six months imprisonment each on count one and two, to run concurrently at Mandala Correctional Centre, adding that, the sentences are however suspended, but the convict would be reporting to official of the Correctional Centre.
Penpushing further reports that, the court also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 12 pro, laptop and manager’s cheque, which he raised as restitution to his victims, adding that in a related development, the commission also secured the conviction of four other persons for similar offences.
The agency gave their identities as include a fake American Military Officer, Oguntoyinbo Oluwatobi Damilola; Taiwo Akinyemi Kayode from Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Adebayo Adeola Mark from Osi in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Adedoyin Olayinka from Ilesha West Local Government Area of Osun State and one Yusuf Alameen Abiodun from Igbo-Owu Area of Kwara State.
Penpushing also reports that, the commission explained that, while the quartet of Jatto, Damilola, Taiwo and Mark were prosecuted before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the same Court, heard the case of Olayinka and Abiodun.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the defendants pleaded guilty to their separate charge, adding that Innocent Mbachie represented the agency in the cases before Justice Abdulgafar, while R. A Alao prosecuted for the commission in the cases before Justice Akinpelu.
Penpushing reports that, the two counsel urged the courts to take notice of the confessional statements and the guilty plea entered by the defendants as well as the evidence tendered against them, which included the devices used in perpetrating the crime to convict and sentence them as charged.
The judge gave Damilola a suspended sentence of six months imprisonment on count one and two, to run concurrently, while ordering the forfeiture of the phone used to perpetrate the crime to the federal government also sentenced Taiwo to a suspended term of six months imprisonment.
Penpushing further reports that, the court ordered that the convict’s Black Toyota Corolla Car with registration number LRN237RA, Dell Laptop, and one IPhone 11 pro be forfeited to the federal government ,while similar sentence was imposed on Mark as the court jailed him six months, which shall be suspended, while ordering the forfeiture of the phone used in committing the crime.
The statement added that, on the other hand, Justice Akinpelu sentenced Olayinka to six months imprisonment each on count one and two, to run concurrently with option of fine of N200,000, and in the same vein, the judge sentenced Abiodun to six months imprisonment with option of fine of N200,000
Penpushing also reports that, the court equally ordered the forfeiture of a draft of N135,000 raised as restitution to the victim of the crime as well as iPhone XR used as instrumentality of the crime.
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