On Wednesday, Justice Ismail Ijelu at an Ikeja Special Offences Court gave 18-year-old Henry Bilabi, who just completed his Secondary School Certificate (SSCE), a two-year jail sentence for using TikTok to scam people out of $500.
However, Bilabi was offered the chance to pay a N1 million fine instead, which he needs to do within 30 days.
This decision came after Bilabi agreed to a plea bargain for the impersonation charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Additionally, the judge ordered Bilabi to do six hours of community service for three months, watched by officials from the Lagos Custodial Centre, and to promise in writing that he wouldn’t commit crimes again. Bilabi’s iPhone7 was also taken away by the government.
Justice Ijelu stated, “The court believes that the defendant fully understands his plea bargain agreement and thus, he is found guilty as charged.”
The judge also reprimanded Bilabi, noting that despite just finishing secondary school, he chose to engage in criminal activities.
Ahmed Yerima, representing the EFCC, explained to the court that the commission had, in October 2023, learned that some youths were scamming people in the Ajah area. When Bilabi was arrested and his phone examined with forensic tools, they found fake documents linked to his TikTok account.
Bilabi admitted to creating a fraudulent TikTok profile under the name Grace David and gained $50 from it. During the investigation, he issued a N50,000 manager’s cheque to the EFCC.
The court accepted Bilabi’s iPhone7, the N50,000 cheque, and his statement as evidence without any objection from his lawyer, Ms. Mary Uzodimma.
In his request for leniency, Bilabi asked the court to show mercy in its judgment.