ONYIA IFEANYI V. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

IBRAHIM TANKO MUHAMMAD, JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Facts contained in the Printed Record of this appeal reveal that the appellant, who was the accused at the Federal High Court, holden at Enugu (the trial Court), is a graduate of Sociology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He was alleged to have represented himself as a British businessman with the name, David Gary, a motor spare parts dealer, intending to have business partnership with one Pakawan Samneang, a woman from Thailand. According to the complainant/respondent, the accused/appellant was able to obtain the sum of $45,000.00 twice and another $60.000.00 from Pakawan Samneang upon false pretence and presentation of himself as a British businessman. He had operated through e-mail messages which he originated from his e-mail address - "shewngh@yahoo.com" to some unsuspecting persons whom he had given the impression that he was into motor spare parts business. His operation base was Malaysia.

There was a petition ag…