A man identified as Tobor Efeturi Godspower has been convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for impersonating one Stephen Townsend claiming to be a military man based in Syria.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Godspower was sentenced by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that he was arraigned by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on a two-count charge bordering on fraudulent impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.
One of the counts reads; “That you, Tobor Efeturi Godspower, on or about the 24th day of October, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one ‘Stephen Townsend’, purporting to be a military man stationed in Syria, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.
The second count reads: “That you, Tobor Efeturi Godspower, on or about the 24th day of October, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held yourself out as the manager of crypto account bearing the name ‘Rosemarie Altez’, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
EFCC revealed that he pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him – and in view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, tendered the defendant’s statements dated October 28 and 30, 2024 and November 1, 4 and 6, 2024; a Toshiba laptop computer; iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Other items tendered are casio wristwatch; fraudulent documents printed from his device as well as the sum of $300 restitution made by the defendant.
Consequently, Suleiman urged the court to convict him as charged and sentence him accordingly – and prayed that the exhibits recovered from the defendant be forfeited to the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria.
“Justice Aluko found the defendant guilty of the offences and sentenced him to four years imprisonment on each of the two counts. The Judge also gave him an option of fine of ₦600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira only) on each of the counts. The exhibits were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the Commission stated.
It reiterated that the convict received his imprisonment when he was arrested for fraudulently impersonating one ‘Stephen Townsend’, purporting to be a military man stationed in Syria and defrauding innocent victims in the process.
