EFCC: Jos Court Jails Three For Facebook Scam
Justice C.L. Dabup of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, today July 7, 2021, sentenced three internet fraudsters, Nbubuisi Kerian Ozomba, Paul Obide and Samuel Chukwuebuka Nduchukwe to one-month imprisonment for obtaining money by false pretence through the social media platform, Facebook.
The trio was arrested in a sting operation by the Abuja Zonal Office of the EFCC following intelligence on their alleged involvement in an internet-related scam.
Investigation revealed that Ozomba created a Facebook Account with the name James Hicks with a profile picture of an American military officer and obtained the sum of $350 USD from Mary Lovely, a Filipino; while Obide (alias Javier Espinal) posed as a military officer from Spain and obtained $2000 from another Filipino, Lovina. He claimed the said sum was for treatment of his sick daughter.
Nduchukwe also created a Facebook Account with the name Alpha Benedict of the United States Army serving in Afghanistan and used the same to defraud Christy Serue from the Philippines of $510.
They pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charges preferred against them.
EFCC counsel S.N. Robert urged the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the plea bargain agreement they voluntarily entered with the Commission.
The Court consequently sentenced them to a month in prison. They were however given the option of a fine of N150, 000 naira each.
EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged N15m Fraud in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, on July 7, 2021, arraigned one Ahanonu Christopher on three counts bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheque before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Kreestoghe Multi Resources Company Limited.
One of the counts reads: “Ahanonu Christopher, sometime in January 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonesty converted to your own use the sum of N15, 000,000, property of Mr. Nnoli Ikenna Chigozie, Managing Director of Living Seeds Pharmaceuticals Limited.”
Another count reads: “Ahanonu Christopher and Kreestoghe Multi Resources Company Limited, on or about the 16th day of July 2018, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, knowingly and fraudulently issued a Diamond Bank Plc (now Access Bank) cheque for the sum of N5, 000,000 to Ikenna Nnoli, which when presented for payment was dishonoured and returned unpaid.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Prosecuting counsel, S.O. Daji, therefore, prayed the Court for a trial date “to enable the prosecution prove its case against the defendant.”
Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the trial till July 27, 2021 for the defence to file its bail application and also for commencement of trial.
Abuja Hair Stylist Convicted of Juju Scam
Justice A.O. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Wednesday July 7, 2021 convicted and sentenced one Energy Dennis, a hair stylist, to five months imprisonment for obtaining $110 from an American by false pretence.
Dennis (a.k.a Baba Dayo), falsely represented himself as a spiritualist (Babalawo) and obtained the sum of $100 (One Hundred United States Dollars) from one Monica of the United States of America.
The offence is contrary to Section 320 (a) of Penal Code laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same law.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. Consequently, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case, leading to the conviction of the defendant by the Court, which however gave him the option of N20,000 fine.
In addition to his sentence, the court also ordered that the money recovered be returned to the victim.
Media & Publicity
7 July, 2021
