Court orders yahoo boy to clean EFCC premises for two weeks

A High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, FCT, recently issued a ruling with regards to a case involving Istifanus Irmiya, a student accused of engaging in internet fraud. The court, after hearing the charges brought against Irmiya by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), found him guilty of cheating and impersonation.

According to Ms. Taiwo Aromolaran, the prosecutor, the defendant, in 2022, participated in fraudulent activities by assuming the identity of another person. Irmiya, pretending to be a Caucasian woman named Clara, deceived his victim. As a result, he acquired 250 Euros from Alex Lexis, a German citizen who sent the money through PayPal and Nosh Apps. Irmiya subsequently transferred the funds to his personal account at Polaris Bank.

When faced with the charges, Irmiya pleaded guilty and appealed to the court for leniency. On Thursday, June 8, Justice Aliyu Shafa delivered the verdict, sentencing Irmiya to clean the premises of the EFCC on a daily basis from 9 am to 12 noon for a period of two weeks. In addition, the court imposed a fine of N100,000 on Irmiya and ordered the destruction of the phone used to commit the crime.

Justice Shafa addressed the plea for leniency presented by the defendant and the defense counsel, stating, "The prevalence of internet fraud through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp in our society is deeply concerning. Being a first-time offender does not warrant letting Irmiya off without consequences." The judge further expressed his distress over the alarming rate of "Yahoo-Yahoo" scams among young people and emphasized that imprisonment could potentially exacerbate the problem, as many individuals driven by the desire for quick wealth may become even more hardened.

Irmiya, remorseful for his actions, humbly implored the court for forgiveness. He expressed his deep regret and claimed to have undergone a significant transformation, fully comprehending the gravity of his offense. In support of Irmiya's plea, Defense Counsel Mr. Chibuike Chima highlighted his client's clean record and genuine remorse.

Chima elucidated, "Irmiya is the only son in his family and aspires to pursue higher education. He has already spent one month in EFCC custody. The convict has demonstrated genuine remorse and voluntarily returned the proceeds of his crime, totaling 250 Euros."

Furthermore, Chima affirmed, "Irmiya is a first-time offender without any prior criminal history. We beseech Your Honor to exercise mercy while administering justice. We assure the court that Irmiya will exhibit good behavior moving forward."