Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, October 6, 2023, convicted one Lawrence Success Karinate, a Peer-to-Peer (P2P), crypto trader for computer-related fraud.
Karinate was prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on cybercrimes, an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015.
The count reads: “That you, Success Lawrence Karinate, sometime in 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently held out yourself on social media platforms, as a female, bearing the name “Jessie Randall”, a fashion influencer, to unsuspecting members of the public, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offense, contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition etc.) Act, 2015.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the one-count charge preferred against him.
Karinate expressed regret for his involvement in the criminal activity and assured the court that he would never engage in internet fraud again.
His counsel, Chikezie Kingsley, prayed the court for mercy, stressing that the defendant was a first-term offender.
In his judgment, Justice Oweibo sentenced him to a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
