Sometimes we come across some of the craziest stories around, and this is just a typical one of such stories. What would definitely be running in the head of Solomon right now is, “how can I be going to jail just because of one Hundred US dollars?”.
Well, that’s the life of crime for you. The story is that the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on September 9, 2024, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Nelson Solomon for defrauding his victim the sum of one hundred dollar ($100).
The cause was brought before Justice I. Nwosu of the FCT High Court Maitama, Abuja, through EFCC, and he was prosecuted on a two-count charge, bordering on impersonation, cheating and obtaining by false pretence. After which he pleaded guilty to the crime and was subsequently convicted and sentenced accordingly.
According to one of the charges, he Nelson Solomon, was accused of cheating by impersonation by fraudulently inducing one Webbi J.W. Mary to deliver the sum of $100 (One Hundred US dollars)
This he did by creating a social media account pretending to be one John Scott, who is an American engineer. All of which amounted to an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
Secondly, he Nelson Solomon within the jurisdiction of Abuja as well, and in 2024, he was equally accused of cheating by impersonation. During which he fraudulently induced one Miguela Okayama and obtained the sum of $100 (One hundred US dollars) simply by pretending to be a certain American citizen identified as William Fernando.
So, committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act. Upon reading all the charges to him, he pleaded guilty and the prosecuting counsel in the person of one G.I. Ushie, then proceeded to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
And upon that, the trial judge in the person of Justice Nwosu then convicted and sentenced Nelson Solomon to a one-year imprisonment or to pay Fifty Thousand Naira (#50,000) as a fine. Equally, he forfeited his iPhone to the federal government, as part of the sanctions imposed on him.
