A Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt has adopted a plea bargain agreement and sentenced defendant facing charge of fraud to two years imprisonment.
Presiding judge of the court, Hon. Justice P.I. Ajoku, on Monday adopted the plea bargain agreement brought forward by the prosecution and sentenced Kelvin Otode, 19, to two years imprisonment or instead pay N200,000 to the federal government.
The defendant faced one-count charge of fraud and false pretence.
On Monday, the prosecution prayed the court that the one-count charge filed before the court be read to the defendant.
When read, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
On this, the prosecuting counsel told the court that there was a plea bargain application filed before the court and prayed the court to adopt the application.
Asked if she was opposed to the application, the counsel to the defendant, Paula O. Abudu, said that she was not opposed to the application saying she had signed the plea bargain agreement.
In her ruling, the judge said that she had considered legal implications of a defendant pleading guilty and said that she found the defendant guilty and convicted him as charged.
Hon. Justice Ajoku sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment or rather for the defendant to pay fine of N200,000 to the federal government.
She also ruled that any phones and property acquired by the defendant from his fraudulent activities be acquired and sold and the money be paid to the federal government.
The suit was brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the defendant.
