A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Abuja yesterday sentenced a businessman, Solomon Ibe, 40, to 200 days in prison for defrauding one Miss Gloria Unogwu of N185, 000.
Ibe, who resides at DakiBiyu, Village Life Camp, Abuja, was charged with joint act and cheating.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr AbdullahiIlleleh, sentenced the convict after he was found guilty of the charges by the court.“I agree you admitted to the crime and begged for leniency, but you must be punished in order to serve as deterrent not only to you but also to future offenders.
“It is disheartening that the case of cheating and 419 is very rampant and increasing at an alarming rate in the Federal Capital Territory.”
“I hereby sentence you to 200 days in prison with a fine option of N6, 000.
“You are also ordered to pay a compensation of N185, 000 to the complainant, Miss Unogwu.
The convict had pleaded guilty to the charge, saying: “Please let the court have mercy on me, I have a wife and five children.“I am a patient with Tuberculosis and I have an aged mother who is blind.’’
The prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, had told the court that Miss Unogwu of Mabushi District, Abuja, lodged the complaint at the Life Camp Police Station on Aug. 8, 2013.
“Emmanuel said in the month of July 2013, the accused person and his accomplice now at large, conspired and defrauded him,” he alleged.
The prosecutor said the complainant later realised that she was hypnotised by the fraudsters and reported the matter at the Police Station.He said the convict and his accomplice absconded until he was arrested by the police. (NAN)
