EFCC Secures Conviction Of Fake American Soldier

EFCC Secures Conviction Of Fake American Soldier

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the
conviction of Osahon Scott, who posed as one United States, US military
officer to perpetrate online fraud.

Scott was arraigned today March 12th, before Justice Umar Bature of a
Federal Capital High, FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, on an amended
one-count charge bordering on cheating.

The count reads 

“That you, Osahon Scott (aka Gen. Sgt. Major John Rossi) sometime in
2018 in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal Capital
Territory High Court, did attempt to commit cheating by posing as United
States Gen. Sgt. Major John Rossi an American soldier deployed to
Afghanistan on peace keeping mission and fraudulently induced one Li
Sufung to deliver the sum of 20, 000 Yuan (Twenty Thousand Yuan), that
the money is payment for cost of non inspection of certificate, a claim
which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 320(a) of the Penal Code Law Cap 532 Laws of the Federation
(1990) Abuja and punishable under Section 95 of the same Act.”

Based on a plea bargain document signed with the prosecution on March
4th and brought to court, pursuant to Section 270 of the Administration
of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015, he pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Prosecuting counsel, Deborah Ademu-Eteh, thereafter, urged the court
to convict and sentence him accordingly, while considering the plea
bargain.

Defence counsel, Ochumba Kingsley, however, pleaded with the court to
temper justice with mercy, appealing to the court to “put into
consideration that the defendant has been consistent with his custody
terms; his health status of being a peptic ulcer patient; a surviving
son of a single mother, an aging grandfather and a young man with a
bright future ahead who is remorseful of his actions”.

While adjourning to March 19, 2019 for sentencing, Justice Bature ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Prison.

Ochumba applied for administrative bail for his client, but it was not granted by the court.