A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a man, Charles Osaibovo, to 50 years in prison for defrauding a foreign woman of £15,000 after posing as Nollywood actor Fredrick Leonard.
The judgment followed a statement made available by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which prosecuted the case before Justice Ismail Ijelu.
According to the EFCC, Osaibovo deceived his victim, Miss Shenika Garati, by claiming the money was needed for a movie production in Nigeria.
He was arraigned on six counts that included conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents, and money laundering.
The convict pleaded not guilty, which led to a full trial where the prosecution, led by T. J. Banjo, called two witnesses and tendered documents in evidence. The defence produced one witness.
While delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge said, “Having reviewed the evidence, the court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is found guilty as charged.”
The court sentenced Osaibovo to 14 years for conspiracy, 14 years for obtaining money by false pretences, five years for theft, 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents, and three years for money laundering. The sentences will run concurrently.
The court also ordered him to refund £15,000 to the victim. He was, however, discharged on one count related to the retention of proceeds of crime.
The EFCC stated that Osaibovo and another suspect, now deceased, had earlier conspired in June 2022 to obtain £38,000 from the same victim under false pretence.
The prosecution further told the court that he transferred the £15,000 between February and August 2022 while concealing its illegal origin.
