Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja has convicted and sentenced Ndidi Joshua Bobby to 42 years in prison for internet fraud involving fraudulent documents and obtaining money under false pretence.
The judge gave the verdict on Wednesday following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos, on charges bordering on stealing and possession of fraudulent documents to the tune of €80,000.
The defendant was earlier arraigned sometimes in December 2021 on a two-count charge.
Later, counsel to the prosecution, led by L. A. Tukur filed an amended six-count charge dated July 2, 2025, under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.
The charge against the convict reads: “Indidi Joshua Bobby sometimes in 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession fraudulent documents wherein you falsely represented yourself as prince Louis to Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner which representation was printed from your phone and Facebook”.
Another count reads: “Indidi Joshua Bobby sometimes in 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud stole and dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of €80,000,000 (Eighty Thousand Euros) properties of one Sabine Sigrid Osterlehner “.
The defendant pleaded not guilty, to the charges read to him, following a full trial which commenced on February 11, 2022.
During the the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered several documents as exhibits.
The prosecution closed its case on October 12, 2023, after which the defendant filed a no-case submission.
The court dismissed the application and ordered him to open his defence.
Subsequently, the defendant testified on his own behalf.
Delivering the judgement on April 22, 2026, Justice Abike-Fadipe held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced the defendant to seven years imprisonment on each of the six counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Thereafter, the court ordered the forfeiture of all items recovered from the convict to the Federal Government of Nigeria, having been used as instruments of the crime.
