A Lekki boutique owner, Babatunde Rufai, better known as Richard Abben has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulence traced to about thirteen-years back in the Lagos State.
This online news platform understands that Richard Abben was given a 9 months sentence by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
It was reported that Richard Abben who is the owner and promoter of a popular boutique in Lekki, “Wear It All Boutique” was earlier arraigned by the EFCC over an alleged internet cybercrime of about $5,000.
The Nigerian Anti-Graft agency filed a case on a three-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretence against the boutique owner, Naija News understands.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Babatunde Sodiq Rufai (a.k.a Richard Abben), on or about the 12th of December 2007 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, used an email address richardabben@yahoo.com, wherein you represented yourself as an American citizen carrying out contractual business in Africa and obtained the sum of $5,000 property of an unsuspecting citizen of the United States of America, thereby committing an offence contrary to sections 278 (1),(2) and 285 (1) of Lagos State, 2011.”
However, the defendant has pleaded “guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the Anti-Graft agency.
Speaking on the case, the counsel for the EFCC, Hamed Yerima, explained to the court of a plea bargain agreement entered with the defence team, charging the court to adopt the same and sentence on the defendant based on the terms of the agreement.
Justice Taiwo in her ruling, said: “I am mindful of this type of crime in our society, which is giving our country a bad image all over the world.”
“However, given the plea bargain agreement, the defendant is hereby sentenced to nine months in prison, with an option of fine of N400,000 to be paid to the account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the office of the EFCC.”
“The three exotic cars recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government,” the Judge ordered.
source https://www.naijanews.com/2020/04/17/popular-lekki-boutique-owner/
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