The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentencing of twenty-five internet fraudsters.
According to the EFCC, 22 of the convicts bagged two-year jail terms each for their involvement in cybercrime offences while three others were cautioned and detained in Awka, Anambra State capital.
This was disclosed in a statement by the EFCC on Sunday and shared on the X (formerly Twitter) page of the commission.
The 25 persons were arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, on one count bordering on impersonation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The count 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.
