A Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike, has convicted and sentenced thirty-six (36) internet fraudsters to eight months in prison each. The convicts pleaded guilty to charges including impersonation, obtaining by false pretenses, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The convicts include Eze Sampson Chukwuebuka, Omeke Chibuzo Emmanuel, Igwebuike Joseph, Ogbu Emmanuel, Kelvin Ngozi, Nkwegu Jideofor, and others, who were arrested in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on November 1, 2024, following intelligence linking them to cybercrime activities. They were found to have defrauded foreign nationals through fake social media accounts.
Justice Anyadike convicted the defendants after they admitted to their involvement in fraudulent activities. The court also imposed a fine of N70,000.00 (Seventy Thousand Naira) as an option to the prison sentence. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of mobile phones and laptops used in the commission of the crimes to the Federal Government.
EFCC counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, requested the convictions, while the defense counsels urged the court to show mercy, noting that the convicts were first-time offenders.
According to the EFCC official account, The charge against Jideofor reads: “That you, Nkwegu Jideofor (22) sometime in the year 2024 at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one Timmy Daniel, a foreigner by means of your IPhone XR phone with IMEI number 356432106483386 via fake social media account with the intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act”.
The charge against Egbu reads: “That you, Christian Egbu (24) sometime in the year 2024 at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one Onanazun from Vietnam by means of your Tecno Pop 8 phone with IMEI number 354373887340823 via fake Whatsapp in which you gained the sum of €500 (Five Hundred Euros) to the advantage of yourself from one Lars, a foreign national and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the After listening to both sides, Justice Anyadike convicted and sentenced them to eight months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N70, 000. 00 (Seventy Thousand Naira). The court also ordered that instruments used in committing the crime which include their mobile phones and laptops be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts were arrested on November 1, 2024, at different locations of Abakaliki , Ebonyi State following actionable intelligence linking them to cybercrimes activities. Upon arrest, investigations revealed that the convicts specialized in defrauding foreign nationals using fake WhatsApp and Facebook accounts.
After listening to both sides, Justice Anyadike convicted and sentenced them to eight months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N70, 000. 00 (Seventy Thousand Naira). The court also ordered that instruments used in committing the crime which include their mobile phones and laptops be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts were arrested on November 1, 2024, at different locations of Abakaliki , Ebonyi State following actionable intelligence linking them to cybercrimes activities. Upon arrest, investigations revealed that the convicts specialized in defrauding foreign nationals using fake WhatsApp and Facebook accounts.
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