Court Sentences ‘Mark Zuckerberg’ to One-year Imprisonment

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

A State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has sentenced one Jatto Sheriff Umar to 1-year imprisonment for impersonating Mark Zuckerberg, the Founder of Facebook, and owner of other social Apps in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims via online relationship.

Other suspects convicted alongside Jatto on offences bordering on cybercrime are Oguntoyinbo Oluwatobi Damilola (fake US military officers), Taiwo Akinyemi Kayode, Adebayo Adeola Mark.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Zonal Command in the state had dragged the 21-year-old Jatto and other suspects to the court.

The defendants pleaded guilty to their separate charges.

Delivering judgment, the presiding Judge Mahmud Abdulgafar sentenced Jatto (Mark Zuckerberg’s impostor) to six months imprisonment each on count one and two, to run concurrently at Mandala Correctional Centre.

The judge said the sentences are however suspended, but the convict would be reporting to an official of the correctional centre.

The forfeiture of his iPhone 12 pro, laptop and manager’s cheque, which he raised as restitution to his victims was ordered.

Justice Abdulgafar also handed Damilola a suspended sentence of six months imprisonment on count one and two, to run concurrently.

He ordered the forfeiture of the phone used to perpetrate the crime to the federal government.

Sentencing Taiwo, Justice Abdulgafar handed him a suspended term of six months imprisonment. And also ordered that the convict’s Black Toyota Corolla Car with registration number LRN237RA, Dell Laptop, and one Iphone 11 pro be forfeited to the federal government.

Mark also bagged a six months jail term, which shall be suspended, while ordering the forfeiture of the phone used in committing the crime.

In another High Court presided over by Justice Adenike Akinpelu, one Adedoyin Olayinka was also sentenced to six months imprisonment each on count one and two.

The jail term is to run concurrently with an option of fine of N200,000 on each count.

The judge also handed Yusuf Alameen Abiodun six months jail term but with option of fine of N200,000. While ordering the forfeiture of a draft of N135,000 raised as restitution to the victim of the crime as well as iphone XR used to commit the crime.