A 27-year-old undergraduate, Damola Ekundayo, accused of possessing documents used for internet fraud, on Monday begged an Ikeja High Court in Lagos State to temper justice with mercy.
Ekundayo, also known as Trisha Douglas, made the appeal after he pleaded guilty to the charge during his re-arraignment.
Ekundayo was re-arraigned on a three-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents.
The accused, who claimed to be a student of the Lead City University in Ibadan, Oyo State, was re-arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.
Addressing the court, the accused said he was a first-time offender, adding that the court should be lenient on him.
“I feel remorseful right now and I am begging the court for mercy,” the computer science student pleaded.
However, Ipaye berated him for engaging in such nefarious activities at the expense of his studies.
The judge said: “I expect better from a university undergraduate.
“What you should be concerned with is how to graduate in flying colours, so that you will be able to contribute positively to our country.”
The judge fixed January 28 for the sentencing of the accused.
Ekundayo was previously re-arraigned on November 11, 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted a bail in the sum of N200,000.
However, Ekundayo, who lives at 2, Ola-Ayeni Abiola Street, Opebi, Lagos, later entered a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC, which necessitated his re-arraignment.
The EFCC counsel, Zainab Etuh, said that Ekundayo was arrested on May 6, 2013 in Lagos for possession of fraudulent documents.
Etuh said the accused was in possession of an electronic mail address under the alias of Trisha Douglas, which he wanted to use to perpetrate fraud on the internet.
She said his offence contravened Section 318 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
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