Judge Aliyu Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gwagwalada, on Wednesday sentenced fake senator, Tom Makwe, to two years in prison for defrauding Spanish citizens of €47,082.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the convict with two counts of intent to defraud via the internet.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court for leniency.
However, the judge gave the convict the option of a fine of N5 million.
Shafa ordered that N30 million, and $1,300 obtained from the convict be donated to the victim, Maria Del Rosario san Jose Garces through the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria and proof of confiscation must be submitted through the registrar of court within two weeks.
He said the items recovered from the convict which included a 2017 model black Camry car, a Samsung S 23, an Apple iPhone 13 mobile phone and an EliteBook mobile phone would be confiscated to the Federal Government and the sale proceeds would be remitted to the victim through the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria.
Earlier, the convict in his mercy plea told the court that he sincerely apologized for his mistakes and bad character.
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He said: “I am a changed man and beg the court to tamper with justice with mercy. I will never have anything to do with internet fraud again.”
Defense lawyer, Adaji Abel, who supported the convict’s allocutus pleaded with the court to subvert justice with mercy.
Abel said the convict was a first-time criminal, cooperating with EFCC investigations, making restitution, and providing useful information to investigators to catch other fraudsters.
Prosecutor, Deborah Adamu-Eteh told the court, the convict was convicted between December 12, 2021 and November 12, 2022 with the intention of defrauding via the internet pretending to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan and Senator Tompolo.
Adamu-Eteh said the convict claimed to be a white Diplomatic Lawyer with telephone number +34613208672.
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