Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, convicted and sentenced one Osaibovo Charles to a total of 50 years’ imprisonment for offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.
Charles was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate I of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge bordering on the fraudulent collection of £15,000 from one Miss Shenika Garati.
He deceived the victim by impersonating a popular Nigerian actor, Fredrick Leonard, claiming the funds were needed for a movie production in Nigeria.
One of the charges read that : “Charles Osaigbovo and Charles Evans Osaigbovo (deceased), in June 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of £38,000 (Thirty-Eight Thousand Pounds) by false pretence from Miss Shenika Garati.”
Another count reads : “Osaibovo Charles, sometime between February and August 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, transferred the aggregate sum of £15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Pounds) derived directly from your illegal activity by concealing the illegal origin of the same.”
Charles pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them, prompting a full trial.
