EFCC: Serial Impersonator Nabbed For $500 USD Scam In Kaduna
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal command, has arraigned one Ebere Steven Dike before Justice Darius Khobo on a two count charge bordering on cybercrime.
Count one of the charge reads: “that you, Ebere Steven Dike on or about the 10th of October, 2022 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jason Momoa, an actor of United States of America on Instagram, obtained gift cards worth the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) from Jennifer Philip for a romantic relationship and you thereby committed Cheating by Impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law, 2017 of Kaduna State and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his not guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, asked for a date for commencement trail to enable him bring his witnesses to court. But the defence counsel, J.O Balogun prayed the court to grant his client bail.
Justice Darius granted bail to the defendant in the sum of Two Million Naira and one surety in like sum. The surety must be resident in Kaduna and own property with valid Certificate of Occupancy.
The case has been adjourned till July 11, 2023 for commencement of trial.
Ebere troubles started when operatives of the Commission, acting on intelligence, arrested him in the Barnawa area of Kaduna.Upon investigation, it was discovered that he impersonated one Jason Momoa, a American actor, by creating fake Instagram and Facebook pages which he used to chat with and defraud his victims. He had benefited more than $500USD before he was nabbed.
In another development, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Command, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, secured the conviction of one Arinzechukwu Bethel Amara on a one count charge before Justice A.A. Halilu of the FCT High Court Apo, Abuja.
The charge reads, ‘that you Arinzechukwu Bethel Amara sometime in November 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did attempt to cheat by personation when you created an Instagram account with the profile name Kittisak Anong, a United States citizen and a telecom worker based in the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Laws.’
Following his guilty plea, Justice Halilu convicted and sentenced Arinzechukwu to one year in prison with an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
His iPhone is also to be sold and the proceeds paid to the Federal Government.
