An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced a man, Toheeb Yusuf, to one year imprisonment at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for engaging in money laundering.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe who sentenced Yusuf to one-year imprisonment following his plea bargain agreement to the sole charge of money laundering, however, gave the convict an option of 100 hours community service to be supervised by the officials of the correctional center.
She ordered that the convict be returned to prison to serve the remainder of his term any day he refused to show up for the community service.
“The convict shall forfeit his iPhone 13 Pro and the Toyota Camry car and the sum of one million naira manager’s cheque raised in favor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,” the judge said.
Earlier, the EFCC counsel, Mr Ebuka Okongwu, in his review of facts, had told the court that the convict was involved in cybercrime.
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Okongwu said the convict was arrested during a sting operation on Sept.19, 2023, with an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and gold Toyota Camry in his possession, adding that he concealed and disguised the genuine nature and ownership of the aggregate sum of $23,423 money received from his illegal transaction.
The defense counsel, Shina Makinde, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy and give the convict a non-custodial sentence.
Makinde told the court that the convict was a first time offender who did not waste the time of the court.
“His wife left him with his child over this issue, My lord.
“We pray that you have mercy on him,” he said.
The convict, in his plea for mercy, also prayed the court to have mercy on him that he had turned a new leaf.
The offence contravenes Section 330(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State. 2015.
