An Ibadan Federal High Court on Wednesday, sentenced an internet fraudster by the name, Babatunde Akintomiwa, to 14 months in prison for impersonation and for defrauding his victims of N400, 000.

Justice Patricia Ajoku convicted and sentenced Akintomiwa based on the evidence before her and the plea bargain agreement between him and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

She said that the judgment was in line with the provisions of Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 that spelt out how somebody who pleads guilty to an offence should be sentenced.

“I hope that Akintomiwa is remorseful of his actions and willing to contribute positively to society now.

“However, to serve as a warning to others interested in the crime, Akintomiwa is sentenced to 14 months in prison. The sentence starts from the date he was first arrested.

“All the exhibits found in his possession are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Ajoku said.

The Counsel to the Ibadan Zonal Office of EFCC, Mrs Iyabo Daramola, had told the court that the convict was arraigned on a one-count amended charge bordering on impersonation.

Daramola added that the convict committed the crime on April 19, 2019, in Ibadan. According to her, Akintomiwa operated a fictitious email address to deceive unsuspecting foreigners.

She further said that deceitful information was retrieved from the said email address.