A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has handed a 50-year prison sentence to Osaibovo Charles after finding him guilty of a long list of offences tied to a romance and identity fraud scheme in which he posed as popular Nigerian actor Frederick Leonard to deceive a United Kingdom resident.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission revealed that Charles swindled Miss Shenika Garati by claiming he needed funds for an upcoming film project. Prosecutors told the court that he secured £15,000 from her and attempted to obtain an even larger sum through a false story built around the actor’s identity. One of the charges noted that he and a now-deceased accomplice tried to obtain £38,000 from the same victim in 2022.
Investigators also established that Charles moved £15,000 between February and August 2022 while hiding the criminal source of the funds. He denied all allegations, prompting a full trial. The prosecution led by T. J. Banjo presented witnesses and documentary evidence, while the defence called one witness.
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Justice led to separate convictions for conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, theft, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering. The court imposed 14 years each for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, five years for theft, another 14 years for possession of fraudulent documents and three years for money laundering. The terms will run concurrently, leaving Charles with a 50-year sentence without the option of a fine.
He was cleared of one charge linked to retaining proceeds of crime. The court ordered him to repay £15,000 to Miss Garati as restitution.
