FCT High Court Kubwa Division on Wednesday ordered a 30-year-old youth corps member, Chibuike Omemgboji, to clean the premises of Winners Chapel, Jahi, Abuja for six months.
Mr Omemgboji pleaded guilty to cheating filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and asked for leniency from the court.
In making his ruling, Judge Kezziah Ogbonnaya ordered Mr Omemgboji to attend church daily from June 15, register and step down at the end of the service.
Mr. Ogbonnaya, however, warned him to refrain from committing crimes and to have good conduct.
Defense lawyer Eteh Enobong had told the court that Mr Omemgboji, who had never been convicted in Nigeria or abroad, was remorseful and repentant.
“Omemgboji repented before being arrested and revealed his true identity to the victim, apologized and tried to make restitution and started a new business with his wife.
“He has decided to confiscate a Honda Accord car and an iPhone X, proceeds of crime, from the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Mr Enobong said.
He added that Mr Omemgboji is a family man who has a baby and was the breadwinner of his family.
Earlier, EFCC lawyer Mariya Shariff told the court that Mr Omemgboji aka Surajo Ascencio fraudulently created a Facebook and Instagram account in 2022.
Ms Shariff said Mr Omemgboji misrepresented himself as ‘Ascencio’ to a stranger, Sarah Vakunta and received $4,328 from her on the pretext of being in love with her.
The offence, she said, contravened the provisions of Article 320 of the Penal Code and was punishable under Article 322.
(NOPE)