Court Jails Eleven Internet Fraudsters in Calabar, Makurdi
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, on Thursday, July 6, 2023 jailed five fraudsters for fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Also the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, July 6, 2023, secured the conviction of six fraudsters before Justice Abdul Dogo of a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
These were contained in a news release posted on the Commission’s official website .
The convicts, Omini Godswill, Ojong Anthony Ojong, Nsikak Essien, Oforji Chijindu and Uche Chinedu, were jailed following their pleas of ” guilty” to various charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
While Essien, Chijindu, Chinedu and Godswill were arraigned on separate two-count charges, Ojong was arraigned on one count charge.
In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Adebayo Soares, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, defence counsel, Innocent Eze, Treasure Okey and Francis Ezike pleaded for leniency in sentencing the defendants.
After listening to the parties, Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced Essien, Chinedu and Godswill to six months imprisonment on each count with an option of fine of N1million each. Chijindu was sentenced to four months imprisonment on each count with an option of fine of N1million while Ojong bagged six months imprisonment with an option of fine of N1million. The sentences takes effect from the day of their arrest.
Justice Ojukwu further ordered Godswill to restitute $650; Chinedu, N145,000; and Chijindu and Essien $200 each to their victims through the Commission.
The Court also ordered that all instruments used in committing the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC at various locations in Calabar, Cross River State for involvement in cybercrime
Investigations revealed that the convicts used several social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram to fraudulently impersonate foreign nationals to defraud their victims.
COURT SEND SIX INTERNET FRAUDSTERS TO JAIL IN MAKURDI
The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, July 6, 2023, secured the conviction of six fraudsters before Justice Abdul Dogo of a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
The convicts are: Odumu Emmanuel, Audu Abdulgafar Idowu, Ikwe Daniel Adawu, Benedict Udochukwu Ezeokole, Clement David Onoja and Lawrence Ndubisi.
They were convicted for fraudulent impersonation, contrary to section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.)Act, 2015 and sentenced to various jail terms, after pleading guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Odumu was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of One Million Naira fine and will forfeit his iPhone and laptops to Federal Government of Nigeria.
Audu was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.
Ikwe bagged three years imprisonment with an option of N2 million Naira fine.
Benedict was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N1million fine. He is also to forfeit a Lexus 330 car, 2 laptops, an iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 7 to Federal Government of Nigeria.
Clement was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of One million Naira fine. He also forfeits an iPhone 11 to Federal Government of Nigeria.
Lawrence was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of One Million Naira fine. He was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 12 to Federal Government of Nigeria.
The charge against Odumu Emmanuel reads: “That you Odumu Emmanuel ‘m’ (24 years) between October, 2022 and January, 2023 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated by representing yourself to be Jawarska Malina and Miguel Alenjandra, the United State of America females and using their unique identification details to register for Appen social security program and obtained the sum of $3, 600.00 (Three Thousand and Six Hundred Dollars), received in your Gpay foreign online platform account, which you converted and transferred to your Stanbic IBTC Bank Account No. 0025110646 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under subsection 22(2) of the same Act.”
