Young “upcoming” yahoo boy jailed for 6 months in Benin(photos)

A young internet fraudster popularly referred to as ‘ yahoo boy’ has been sentenced to jail for 6 months at a Federal High Court sitting in Benin city, Edo state. 

The young man identified as Akhigbe Gabriel was sentenced by Justice M.G. Umar on a three count charge of impersonation and intent to defraud through the internet contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cyber crime (prohibition, prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(IV)) of the same Act

According to the EFCC, his laptop had been secured in the zonal office today by 17th June,2019. 

Gabriel who at various times presented himself as Mathew Swan, Mathew Chang, David Wong, Richard Swan and Mark Peter was alleged to have, with intent to defraud sent electronic messages to one Candy Selfie, an American lady in order to hoodwinked her.

One of the counts read:

That you Akhibge Gabriel (a.k.a Mathew Aswan, Mathew Chang , David Wong, Richard Swan and Mark Peter) sometime between 2018 and 2019 at Uromi within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Michael Chan by sending an American picture to Candy Selfie a lady in America through the internet which picture and identity you claim to be our own with the intent to obtain money from her, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(IV) of the same Act”.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges prompting the prosecution counsel F. A. Kirby to ask the court to sentence the young man based on the content of the plea bargain agreement.

The defence counsel, Peter Asemota however preyed the court to be lenient with the defendant as he was a remorseful first time offender who had promised not to return to crime when released.

Justice Umar thereafter sentenced the accused to six (6) months imprisonment with an option of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira).

See photo

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