On Wednesday, June 26, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gwagwalada, Abuja, sentenced Tom Makwe, a man posing as a Nigerian senator, to two years imprisonment for defrauding a Spanish national of 47,082 euros.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Makwe on two counts of intent to defraud over the internet.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Aliyu Shafa also offered the convict an alternative to imprisonment, imposing a fine of N5 million. The Guardian reported that in a surprising turn of events, Makwe pleaded guilty to the charges and requested leniency from the court,stating:
“I am a changed person and plead with the court to tamper justice with mercy. I will never have anything to do with internet fraud again,” he pleaded.
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Justice Shafa ordered that the N30 million and $1,300 recovered from Makwe be returned to the victim, Maria Del Rosario San Jose Garces, through the Spanish embassy in Nigeria. The court mandated that evidence of this forfeiture be submitted to the registrar within two weeks.
Additionally, the items seized from Makwe, including a black 2017 model Camry, a Samsung S23, an Apple iPhone 13, and an HP EliteBook, would be forfeited to the government. The proceeds from the sale of these items are also to be remitted to the victim via the Spanish embassy in Nigeria.
Throughout the proceedings, Makwe expressed deep remorse for his actions. He apologized for his misconduct and pleaded for mercy, acknowledging the gravity of his offenses.
Justice Shafa’s ruling underscores the seriousness with which the Nigerian legal system treats cases of fraud and highlights the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to combat financial crimes in the country.