An internet fraudster, popularly called Yahoo Boy, Nkanu Samuel Anari, has been convicted and sentenced to 250 hours community service, by a Lagos Federal High Court for impersonation.
The convicted yahoo boy, who was accused of impersonating one Stephen Townsend, was given the none custodian sentence by Justice Abimbola Awogboro, after he pleaded guilty to a count-charge of the offence, leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicted 25 year-old Yahoo Boy, according to the prosecutor, Zeenat Atiku, was arrested on August 20, 2023.
The prosecutor told the court that in the course of his arrest, it was discovered that he had impersonated one Stephen Townsend, the name he used in defrauding his victims of the sum of $10,000 USD.
The prosecutor further told the court that during investigation, the convict admitted benefited the said sum.
The convict, upon his arraignment on the one count charge of impersonation, admitted committing the crime and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Upon his guilty plea, the prosecutor through a witness, reviewed the facts of the charge, as well, tendered the convict’s confessional statements, a laptop, an iPhone, bundle of documents retrieved from the laptop and a United Bank of Africa (UBA) manager’s Cheque with monetary value of N200, 000, 00.
The prosecutor after reviewing the facts of the charge and tendered the exhibits, which were admitted by the court, urged the court to convict him in accordance with the section of the EFCC Act, he was charge with.
The convict in his plea for mercy, pleaded with the court to forgive him, adding that he has learnt his lesson in custody.
He also begged for forgiveness from God and his parents.
His lawyer, C. M. Uzodinma, in her allucutor, told the court she had counselled him while in custody and he had also promised not to engage in such act.
Uzodinma told the court that the convict is remorseful and pleaded that he should be given a second chance.
She also urged the court not to award maximum sentence.
Justice Awogboro after listening to the lawyers’ submissions, sentenced the accused to 250 hours community service.
The judge also ordered that laptop, an iPhone, and a United Bank of Africa (UBA) manager’s Cheque with monetary value of N200, 000, 00, tendered as exhibits be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.
