OBTAINING BY FALSE PRETENCE! Court sentences internet fraudster to one year in prison

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday sentenced one Taiwo Michael Okunowo, an Internet fraudster, to one-year imprisonment.

Okunowo was convicted by Justice S.O. Solebo on a one- count bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested the convict following intelligence report received by officials on December 15, 2017, about his fraudulent activities.

The count reads: “That you, Taiwo Michael Okunowo, (aka Holly Herlich, Mark Welsh, Steven Staller), on or about the 16th day of December, 2017, at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial Division, had in your possession documents containing false pretence titled- “Facebook & Government Compensation Winning Certificate, Treasure Grant Winners Certificate and Facebook-brandon M. Micke”- containing false pretence, which you knew to be false.”

Reports said the convict, who had earlier entered a plea bargain with the EFCC, pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against him.

Justice Solebo while delivering his judgement, found Okunowo guilty of the one-count and sentenced him accordingly.