Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered a 21-year-old student, Abraham Umuibe, to sweep Mpape Government Secondary School for 90 days.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged Umuibe with cheating and falsely representing himself as a Chinese citizen and military man named Maisbay Chang.
The prosecutor, Ijeabalum Diribe, alleged that the convict fraudulently induced a Chinese lady on WEchat and collected N113, 000 from her, an offence which contravened Section 95 of the Penal Code.
Defence counsel, Ruth Mamza, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant was a first time offender with no criminal record.
She said he was remorseful and understood the gravity of his offence, adding that he had refunded everything he collected from the victim.
The prosecutor consequently informed the court that Umuibe and his defence counsel entered and signed a plea bargain on June 16, urging sentencing in line with the terms of the plea bargain entered, which states that upon conviction, the defendant should pay N113, 000 fine or serve one month in prison.
Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya therefore sentenced the accused person to 90 days of community service, stating that the unusual judgment was delivered as part of non-custodial sentencing to decongest the prisons.
Ogbonnaya ordered the prison officers to provide a register for Umuibe to sign daily for the 90 days and after which he would be free to go home.
She warned him to desist from committing crimes and be of good behaviour.