How Court Jails Graphic Artist Six Months for Impersonation in Lagos…details

Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has sentenced one Roland Esin Mana, a Graphic Artist, to six months imprisonment for impersonation.

He was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on possession of documents containing false pretences.

The count reads: “ That you, Roland Esin Mana, on or about the 22nd September, 2023 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession documents containing false pretences, wherein you represented yourself as Linh Nguyen, an Asian lady, to defraud Dang Xuan, whom you met on Facebook, which representation you knew to be false.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, N.C. Mutfwang, sought to review the facts of the case against  him.

According to him, the convict was arrested during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission sometime in March 2024, following intelligence  received about the fraudulent activities of some young persons involved in Internet fraud, otherwise known as Yahoo Yahoo, in the Ajah-Lekki area of Lagos.

Mutfwang also told the court that the convict confessed to have created fake Instagram and Facebook accounts, where he represented himself as Linh Nguyen and Nguyen Ohuc.

The prosecution counsel further stated that Mana’s mobile phone was subjected to forensic analysis and that some fraudulent documents were printed out from his email account.

According to the prosecution counsel, Mana, in the face of the overwhelming evidence against him, subsequently sought a plea bargain with the Commission.

Mutfwang, therefore, sought to tender, in evidence, the defendant’s extra-judicial statements; his Infinix Smart 9 mobile phone; his HP laptop computer; the forensic investigation documents print out; his extra-judicial statement as well as the letter of plea bargain he entered into with the Commission.

They were all admitted in evidence by the court, as there was no objection from the defence counsel.

Justice Ijelu chastised the convict, who also claimed to be a 24-year-old secondary school certificate holder, for his involvement in criminal activities.

The Judge held that “The court is satisfied that the defendant understands the plea bargain agreement; and accordingly, the defendant is hereby found guilty.”

He was, therefore, sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with an option of N250,000 fine.

The Judge also ordered that his Infinix Smart 9 and HP Laptop computer be forfeited to the Federal Government.