A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has sent one Osaibovo Charles to prison for 50 years for offences tied to a £15,000 fraud carried out against a foreign victim.
The judgment was disclosed in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Charles faced a six-count charge filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate I of the EFCC over claims that he tricked Miss Shenika Garati after posing as Nollywood actor Fredrick Leonard and requesting money under the guise of funding a film project in Nigeria.
One of the charges stated: “Charles Osaigbovo and Charles Evans Osaigbovo (deceased), in June 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of £38,000 (Thirty-Eight Thousand Pounds) by false pretence from Miss Shenika Garati.”
Another read: “Osaibovo Charles, sometime between February and August 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, transferred the aggregate sum of £15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Pounds) derived directly from your illegal activity by concealing the illegal origin of the same.”
He denied all charges, leading to a full trial. The prosecution team, led by T.J. Banjo, presented two witnesses and several documents, while the defence called one witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ismail Ijelu ruled: “Having reviewed the evidence, the court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant is found guilty as charged.”
The court imposed 14 years for conspiracy, 14 years for obtaining money by false pretence, and 5 years for stealing. He also received 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents and 3 years for money laundering. There was no option of fine.
Charles was cleared on the charge of retention of proceeds of crime.
All terms will run concurrently, totalling 50 years. The court also ordered him to refund £15,000 to Miss Garati.
