Court jails Brad Pitt’s impersonator in Benin

The federal high court sitting in Benin, Edo state has jailed Oshodi Nelson Ufo, a Nigerian man, for impersonating Brad Pitt, the American actor.

Ufo was arraigned alongside four others by the Benin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on one count charge each for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

According to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s spokesman, the other persons convicted include Shuaibu Macclinton, Olasunmoye Teniola, Eze Stephen, and Ayobamidele Temitope Oguntimehin.

The charge against Ufo reads: “that you Oshodi Nelson Ufo (aka William Brad Pitt) sometimes in 2021 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did impersonate the identity of William Brad Pitt, an American actor by fraudulently sending documents to one Thiammy Dolan through the internet which document you claimed emanated from the said William Brad Pitt with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(in) of the same Act”.

During the court session on Monday, they all pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

I.M Elody, the prosecution counsel, thereafter prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants in accordance with the plea bargain agreement between the parties.

S. M. Shuaibu, the judge, then convicted and sentenced Macclinton to three years imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine while Oguntimehin bagged two years imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine.

The trio of Ufo, Teniola, Stephen bagged two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine each.

The judge also ordered that phones recovered from them during investigation be forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.