Student cum Fraudster bags 10-yr jail term

fuad lawal

June 20, 2015 7:09 AM

An undergraduate has been jailed by a Federal High Court in Abuja for duping job seekers.

Court Gavel

Alex Oki, 27, an undergraduate, has been jailed by a Federal High Court in Abuja for duping job seekers.

Oki, 27, who is a 400-level student of the University of Abuja was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

Oki was arraigned October 28, 2014 along with two others on a 5-count charge by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for posing as an official of the FIRS and duping job seekers with the promise to help them secure employment with the FIRS. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

On June 15, this year, he changed his mind and pleaded guilty to the charge, following which Justice Kolawole convicted him and adjourned his sentencing to a later date.

While sentencing him yesterday, the judge wondered why a university student with hope of a better tomorrow would choose to engage himself in swindling fellow young Nigerians who are seeking to be employed.

Justice Kolawole, who regretted the prevailing moral decadence in the society, wondered why Oki’s parents never showed interest in his trial.

The judge chose to be lenient with the convict by sentencing him to the minimum prescribed prison term under the law on which he was charge by jailing him two years on each count which are to serve concurrently.

“Imposing fine is not going to serve the interest of justice and serve as deterrent to others. It is hoped that the convict will take advantage of the light sentence by the court and turn a new leaf. He is to serve two years in prison, from October 28 when he was arraigned and remanded in custody,” the judge said.

fuad lawal