Justice Lateef Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Wednesday convicted a 19-year-old secondary school leaver, Tobechukwu Igbokwe, and sentenced him to 37 years imprisonment for defrauding an American, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Igbokwe (Alias David Prince) and his accomplice, Ifeanyi Obi, were alleged to have duped an American, M. Silva, of the sum of $40m in an inheritance scam.
Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safekeeping.
The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments through Western Union to Igbokwe.
Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners. Some of them are: T. Bedwell, $6,000 and R. Hunt $15,000.
The convict was then arraigned before the court on 12 counts bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences.
Justice Akapo found him guilty on all 12-counts and sentenced him accordingly. He was sentenced to seven years on counts 1-8; eight years on count 9; seven years on count 10, eight years on count 11 and seven years on count 12, making a cumulative of 37 years imprisonment.
The sentence is to run concurrently with effect from October 28, 2013. The court also ordered Igbokwe to return the $40m as restitution to the victim and forfeit a Toyota Corolla car, which he used the money to buy.
Igbokwe was arraigned on Monday, October 28, 2013 and pleaded not guilty to the 12 charges filed against him. He later changed his plea to guilty and was convicted by Justice Akapo accordingly.
Before the conviction, the prosecuting counsel, Kayode Oni, tendered various exhibits before the court which were all admitted and marked as such.
However, the defence counsel, D. A. Omougbai prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, since Igbokwe had shown remorse for the offences he committed. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Because he is an igbo man you can now sentence him anyhow you like. What of yunusa and others who kidnapped a teenager and forced into islam? What of fulani herdsmen? Sentiments and tribalism has entered judiciary.
ReplyDeleteThe judge is very lenient self. He should have given the idiot life sentence. Anu ofia!What has tribe got to do with criminality. I am Igbo and this is how few people tarnish the name of Igbo's doing all sorts of terrible things. You saying this trash is a semi literate fool. Why most he commit crime to live big and you are bringing ethnic sentiment to it. The scriptures says what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul. Now he has made all the billions and is behind bars.He will likely lose everything cos before his croniesust have cornered the remaining money and properties not taken over by government. He will still refund the money and his accomplices will finish the rest hiding from one country to the other. Ewu.
ReplyDeleteFoolish judgement. If d whiteman is not corrupt and selfish, would anybody duped him?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in one part - the white man is a greedy fraudulent person. I believe his plan was to have the 'huge inheritance' money all to himself eventually. But then, evil is evil. Our brother didn't do well and this contributes to the bad tag given to Nigeria. I pray he finds Christ in the prison and becomes a changed person.
DeleteIgbo kwenu!
ReplyDeleteIgbo Kwenu! My brothers no dey carry last $40M!
ReplyDelete