Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, on Wednesday, sentenced Mesheal Luka to six months imprisonment following his conviction on a two- count amended charge of cybercrime and other internet-related fraud brought against him by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The defendant variously posed as an American citizen and induced his victims to send him money while pretending to be in romantic relationship with them.
Count one of the charge reads in part: |”That you, Mesheal Luka, (male) between January and August, 2021 in Kaduna, did pretend to be one Mesheal (a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one Samuel of the sum of $100 when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.
The second count amended charge reads in part: “That you, Mesheal Luka, (male) between January and August, 2021 in Kaduna, did pretend to be one Jessica (a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one James Partridge of the sum of €30.00, when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.
But when the charge was read to Luka, he pleaded guilty to the amended charge.
In view of his guilty plea, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, M.A Jamil, urged the court to convict him with the terms of a plea bargain agreement between the parties as the judgment of court.
But the defence lawyer, Usman Idris, urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant has shown remorse and promised never to engage in any act of criminality again.
Justice Khobo consequently convicted and sentenced Luka to six months imprisonment and ordered him to restitute the sum of $50.00 to his victims: Samuel and James Partridge; American citizens through the United States Embassy, Nigeria.
The judge also ordered Luka to forfeit one Infinix smart 5 phone and the sum of N48,720.89 to the Federal Government.
