Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City convicted and sentenced six internet fraudsters to various jail terms on Monday, September 25, 2023.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the six (6) internet fraudsters are; Napoleon Efe Miracle, Efetobore Prosper Eghagha, Jephthah Godbless Azino, Akiefe Desmond, Chukwuyenum Kenneth Ifeakachukwu and Efetayobor Ochuko.
The anti-corruption agency disclosed that ‘the convicts were arraigned separately on one count charge of impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.’
It was also revealed that ‘their road to prison began following their arrest by operatives of the Commission based actionable intelligence on the activities of alleged fraudsters in Egbiki and Oputo Communities, Ovwian, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.”
One of the charges read: “that you Chukwuyenum Kenneth Ifeakachukwu on or about 8th day of September, 2023 in Benin City Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.2006 and punishable under section 1(3)of same Act”.
Upon arraignment the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as they were first-time offenders who have become remorseful for their actions.
Meanwhile, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Ifeakachukwu, Miracle, Eghagha, Azino and Ochuko to three years imprisonment with an option of five hundred thousand naira (500,000) each, while Desmond was sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of three hundred thousand naira (300,000).
The judge also ordered the convicts to forfeit a Range Rover Evogue 2013 model SUV, Toyota Venza 2010 model car, one Lexus RX350 2010 model car and mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In the same vein, the total balance in Desmond Akiefe’s bank account, being proceeds of crime, was also forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Elsewhere, Justice Maureen Adaobi Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State jailed an internet fraudster, Prince Mbang Uba on Monday, September 25, 2023.
The Nigerian law enforcement agency said Uba was imprisoned ‘on a two count charge of criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of three hundred United State Dollars ($300).’
One of the charges reads: “That you, Prince Mbang Uba (aka Sophia Johnson) in 2023 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as Sophia Johnson on social media platform (Facebook) and obtained the sum of Three Hundred United States Dollars ($300) only, from one Bernie Smith and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) & (ii) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act”.
EFCC disclosed that “he pleaded guilty to the charges and in view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Victor Ukagwu, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the following before the court: convict’s statements, his iPhone X and all the incriminating documents printed from his phone, which the court admitted in evidence.”
Ukagwu ‘thereafter prayed the court to convict and sentence Uba accordingly.’
However, EFCC also made it known that ‘defence counsel, Innocent Eze pleaded for leniency and sued the court to temper Justice with mercy’.
In light of the aforementioned, ‘the court thereafter convicted and sentenced Uba to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira only).
EFCC stated that Uba had earlier been arrested on June 6, 2023.
“Uba’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of the Commission on June 6, 2023 along Parliamentary Road in Calabar, Cross River State for online criminal activities. Investigations revealed that the convict specialized in impersonating foreign nationals and using social media platforms to defraud his unsuspecting victims.”
In a related development, Justice Onyetenu remanded a lawyer, Imoh Johnson Ekong at the Uyo Correctional facility over alleged N12million (twelve million naira) property fraud on Monday, September 25, 2023.
The anti-corruption agency said that Ekong was arrested on December 5, 2017 by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC, based on a petition by one Ime Akpan Umo, who alleged that he paid Ekong N12million as a part-payment for a property at No. 38 Ikpa Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
It was also stated that ‘the petitioner, however, could not pay a balance of N28million (twenty eight million naira) for the property because he found out that the Power of Attorney presented to him by Ekong was allegedly forged.’
Similarly, ‘he also discovered that the said property had previously been sold to someone else.’
EFCC mentioned that ‘Ekong was arrested and arraigned at the State High Court Uyo, where he was granted bail in 2019. But he jumped bail. He was re-arrested by operatives of the Commission and arraigned on Monday, September 25, 2023 on a two-count charge bordering on stealing and criminal conversion.’
One of the charges against him reads: “That you, Barr. Imoh Johnson Ekong on or between March and April 2015 in Uyo within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did use the sum of Twelve Million Naira (N12,000.000), property of Ime Akpan Umo which you reasonably ought to have known formed proceeds of unlawful acts to wit; stealing by fraudulent conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.
Meanwhile, ‘he pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, and in view of his plea, Ukagwu informed the court that the defendant had previously jumped bail and asked for his remand at the Uyo Correctional facility.’
Consequently, ‘Justice Onyetenu remanded him at the Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till October 19, 2023 for hearing on his bail application.’
