Court sends man to jail for defrauding Spanish national of €47,082

A federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Gwagwalada has sentenced one Tom Makwe to two years imprisonment for defrauding a Spanish national of €47,082.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Makwe on two counts of intent to defraud over the internet.

Deborah Adamu-Eteh, the prosecution counsel, told the court that the convict pretended to be Fahad Tonny Makwe, Bryan, and Senator Tompolo between December 12, 2021, and November 12, 2022.

Adamu-Eteh said the convict claimed to be a white male diplomatic solicitor with a phone number of +34613208672.

She added that Makwe obtained €47,082 from Maria Del Rosario San Jose Garces through a Bitcoin wallet address created by the convict.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 321 of the penal code, which is punishable under section 324 of the law.

Makwe pleaded guilty to the charge and begged the court for leniency.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Aliyu Shafa, the presiding judge, gave the convict the option of a N5 million fine.

Shafa ordered that the N30 million and $1,300 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the victim through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.

The judge also ordered that evidence of forfeiture be filed through the registrar of the court within two weeks.

He said items recovered from Makwe — one black Camry 2017 model car, a Samsung S23, an Apple iPhone 13 cellphone, and an HP EliteBook—should be forfeited to the government, while proceeds from the sale should be remitted to the victim.

Makwe, in his plea for mercy, told the court that he was “sincerely sorry” for his misconduct and bad character.

“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.

Adaji Abel, the defendant’s counsel, also prayed the court to show mercy to Makwe.

Abel said the convict was a first-time offender, noting that he cooperated with the EFCC’s investigation, made restitution, and provided useful information to the investigator to arrest other fraudsters.