An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced Ndidi Joshua Bobby to 42 years’ imprisonment for internet fraud involving false identity claims and obtaining money under false pretence.
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe delivered the judgment after finding Bobby guilty of the offences.
His conviction followed his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Okotie-Eboh, on charges bordering on stealing and possession of fraudulent documents involving €80,000.
Bobby was first arraigned in December 2021 on a two-count charge, but the prosecution later amended the charge to six counts dated July 2, 2025, under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
The EFCC told the court that the convict, sometime in 2020 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, had in his possession fraudulent documents in which he falsely represented himself as Prince Louis to Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner.
He was also alleged to have stolen and dishonestly converted to his own use the sum of €80,000 belonging to Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner.
The convict pleaded not guilty and stood trial, which began on February 11, 2022. The prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits in support of its case.
The prosecution closed its case on October 12, 2023, after which Bobby filed a no-case submission. The court dismissed the application and ordered him to enter his defence, where he later testified.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The evidence before this court clearly establishes the guilt of the defendant,” the judge ruled.
She sentenced Bobby to seven years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convict to the Federal Government, stating that they were instruments used in the commission of the crime.
“The law does not permit the retention of proceeds or tools of crime,” the court held.
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