An 18-year-old British guy has been given a one-year prison sentence for "working out" with a 17-year-old British girl in Dubai while they were on vacation with their families.

In September, Marcus Fakana, a resident of Tottenham, north London, began a covert holiday romance with a now 18-year-old Londoner.

The girl's mother reported the relationship to the Dubai police after finding photos and messages describing it when she got home. After that, Fakana was taken into custody at his hotel.

According to the leader of the campaign organization Detained in Dubai, Fakana felt abandoned by the British government since his imprisonment in September and called it a "disgrace."

It is anticipated that he will appeal the sentence.

The news has stirred reactions among Nigerian social media users who have urged the guy's family to also sue the girl's mother in the United Kingdom, as they termed the act unfair.

Read some reactions here

thefoodnetworknig2: "I hope this boy’s family sues that girl’s mum in Uk too sha! Very very unfair!"

emmacyp: "What is different between 18/17? UAE just want to punish this kid"

_oyiza: "But it was CONSENSUAL!!!! This is so unfair"

zamani_oflife: "The girls mother waited until they had returned to London and the other family were still on holiday before making the complaint to the Dubai authorities, as she probably knew if she had made the complaint while still there her daughter would have been arrested and sentenced/ imprisoned also."

tope_laotan11: "Dubai prison no bad like that . He will survive it."

drnubipeter: "After the 1 year. The lady will wait for him. They will now marry. They will now travel and leave their parents. The wife will now be fronting him that… he loved her to the extent of going to jail to prove his love! What a love story!"

caddytunes: "It’s at least better than what he was initially said to be facing (20years). Sad part is,one year behind bars could restructure his entire life in different ways. I wish him and his family all the best"

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