Justices M.S. Abubakar and R.J.Egbe of the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State have convicted and sentenced 20 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts are: Abdulazeez Musa, Akpam Demetrius Oderdoo, Idris Musa Oguga, Godwin Chibuike Dimoji, Egbo Emmanuel Chimezie, Godwin Nnamdi Marcus, Cyprian Okafor, Adewale Lukman, Henry Ifebuche Thomas, Ikper Tavershima Francis and James Inalegwu Godwin.
Others are: Ugochukwu Hycinth Emeka, Kingley Chukwuemeka Kalu, Joseph Christopher Aondowase, Daniel Ugwu Chidubem, Ahar Aondongu Joseph,Terna Moses Velumun, Peter Chigozie Alliswell, Kelvin Akor Oche and Apine Terver.
They were prosecuted by the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge that bordered on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Lukman reads: “That you Adewale Lukman (M) (21 years old) sometime between February 2024 and February 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, and for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a card, sent false electronic messages on Facebook to unsuspecting foreign nationals “American citizens” which they relied upon respecting your identity as one Elon Musk, an American national causing them wrongly lost to the tune of $2300 ( Two Thousand Three Hundred USD) by your deceit which you transferred to your UBA account number 7039010094 and Opay account number 2350863311, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (3)of the cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention ETC ) Act 2015 and punishable under Section the same section.”
The charge against Okafor reads: “That you, Cyprian Okafor “M” 23 years sometime in 2024 and 2025 in FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one ” Zhang Wei” a citizen of Taichung, Taiwan by fraudulently using his identity through internet to create fake social media profile with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(1) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention. ETC) Ac, 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Ramiah Ikhanaede, M.Yusuf, A.S.Idris, A.Gazali, Uwaisu Yusuf, K.T.Sunday, and Imadifon Igbnidu to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsels prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice M.S.Abubakar convicted and sentenced Aondowase, Chiduben, Joseph, Verlumun, Alliswell, Oche and Terver to one year imprisonment each with options of fine. In addition, Chidubem to restitute the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) to his victim, while Verlumun and Joseph forfeited the sum of N5,000,000 ( Five Million Naira ) each to the federal government.
Justice R.J Egbe convicted and sentenced Musa, Oderdoo, Oguga, Dimoji, Thomas, Francis, Chimezie, Marcus, Okafor, Lukman, Emeka, Kalu and Godwin to one year imprisonment each or to pay fines ranging from N100,000 ( One Hundred Thousand Naira to N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to their sentences the convicts forfeited all items recovered from them, including mobile phones, laptop computers and sums of money seen in their bank accounts to the federal government. Okafor further forfeited his Mercedes Benz C300 with Chassis Number WDDGF8BB0CR234168 and registration Number KUJ 300 FA to the federal government.
Their journey to the correctional centre began when they were arrested by the operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in an intelligence-driven sting operation.
