Anambra court convicts 25 internet fraudsters

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A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital has sentenced 25 suspected internet fraudsters to varying durations of jail term, on one count bordering on impersonation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This was made known in a statement issued Sunday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on social media platform, X (formerly Twitter) where the commission said it has secured the conviction and sentencing of twenty-five internet fraudsters.

According to the statement, the Federal High Courts’ Justice, Nnamdi Dimkpa sentenced 22 of the suspects to two-year jail terms each for their involvement in cybercrime offences while he reportedly cautioned three others and ordered their detention in Awka.

Meanwhile, the count for which the suspects have been sentenced read in part, “That you Chukwuneke Chibuike Nicholas sometime in 2023 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Elizabeth Olsen by means of your iPhone 12 pro via a fake Facebook account with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act. 2015 and punishable under Section (22) (4) of the same Act.”

The statement disclosed further that the convicts pleaded guilty to the count which led the counsels to the EFCC, Ani Michael and Rotimi Ajobiewe, to ask the court to sentence them accordingly.
Delivering the judgement, Dimkpa sentenced 22 of the defendants to two years jail term each while three others were cautioned and detained for eight hours before they were released.

“The Convicts are; Kingsley Chekwubechukwu Ngwu, Anthony Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Onyia Chukwuka Christian, Chukwuneke Chibuike Nicholas, Nonso Henry Ozoekwe, John Samuel, Okpe Matthew Chinweike, Kalu Nnachi, Okpe Joachim, Obike Ebuka Boniface, Eze Onyedikachi Kingsley, Ogonna Samuel Okpataku.

“Others are: Denis Chigozie, Emmanuel Johnson, Basil Nnaluo Jason, Chidera Shedrack Ugwueke, David Chimerie Ukeje, Christian Nnamdi Jideofor, Osinachi Johnson, Okechukwu Ezeka, Onuorah Johnson, Ekene Christian Obikezie, Emmanuel Chinonso Aleke, Sopuluchukwu Paul Eneje, and Okechukwu Joshua Onah.

“All the 25 defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Based on their pleas, EFCC’s counsels: Ani Michael and Rotimi Ajobiewe prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Justice Dimkpa thereafter convicted and sentenced 22 of them to two years imprisonment each, with an option of a fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only) while Onah, Aleke, and Nnachi were cautioned and detained in the court premises for eight hours before they were released,” the statement concluded.

Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had recently arrested two suspected internet fraudsters at the residence of a popular Nigerian musician, John Njeng Njeng otherwise known as Skales, according to a statement by the commission on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday.

The commission had in its statement said, “Operatives of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, arrested two suspected internet fraudsters at House F10, Victoria Crest 4, Lekki, Lagos. The suspects: Udemba Chukwuemeka (a.k.a Jody) and Jamal Jamiu Onasola (a.k.a. Jamal) were arrested at the residence of a musician: John Njeng Njeng (a.k.a Skales).

“They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”