Nigerian judge, Justice M.S Sifawa of the Sokoto State High Court, Tuesday sentenced one Freedom Inah to 10 years imprisonment over N1.8 million fraud.
Inah, who works as a travel agent of the Gulf Centre International Travel and Tourism, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and Top Valley Speciality Hospital, UAE, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one count charge of cheating.
According to the Commission, the convict collected the money from one Ahmed Jelani with a promise to offer him an appointment at Top Valley Speciality Hospital last year.
The convict pleaded guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, counsel for the EFCC, S.H. Sa’ad asked the court to convict and sentence him in line with the Penal Code Law of Sokoto State.
The defence counsel, Shamsu Dauda, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a first-time offender who had become remorseful.
He also told the court that the convict had fully restituted the victim.
In his verdict, the judge sentenced the convict to 10 years imprisonment with an option N200,000.00 fine.
I just have a question to this: If the crime was committed in UAE, why is he being prosecuted in Sokoto, Nigeria?