Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital has convicted and jailed 22 internet fraudsters.
The convicted internet fraudsters were arrested and arraigned before the court by the operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate counts bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.
The convicts included Ayodeji Jerome Olumeko, Chima Blessing Afam, Obalim Johnson, Michael Echezona Anyikaeme, Alior Chidera Emmanuel, Chidiebube Ukaigwe Emmanuel, Dim Samuel, Amobi Stanley Ajala, Irobi Kingsley Chiedozie, Oranusi Sylvester Chigozie, Agbo Michael, and Chibuisi Okpara.
Others are Casmir Ibebuogu, Nweze Chinamkpa, Precious Oluebube Chukwuka, Nzube Michael, Chisom Kingsley Mba, Chidera Hedrack Peter, Chukwuka Emmanuel, Chinedu James Nworji, Chukwunansa Igweonu and Akpata Sunday Onose.
One of the charges against Olumeko reads, “That you Ayodeji Jerome Olumeko, sometime in June 2023 in Ugwuaji, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one Scott Herman a foreign National by means of your iPhone 12 pro, through your Gmail account with intent to gain advantage to yourself a pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3) (a) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act. 2015 and punishable under Section (22)(4) of the same Act.”
A charge against Onose reads, “That you Akpata Sunday Onose, sometime in October 2023 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Caire Gilliard a white lady on your Facebook account using your Infinix Phone with intend to obtain money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) and punishable under Section (22) (2) (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act.2015.”
The convicts, according to a statement by the EFCC, all pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Following their guilty plea, Justice Dimgba convicted and sentenced 17 of them to two years imprisonment, with community service each or an option of a fine of N120,000.
Four of the convicts namely Samuel, Chidiebube Ukaigwe Emmanuel, Nweze and Chukwuka Emmanuel were cautioned and given community services, while only Okpara was cautioned and discharged.
