The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Command, has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of twenty-five individuals involved in internet fraud. The verdict was delivered by Justice Nnamdi Dimkpa of the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State, on Friday, October 13, 2023.
The convicts, who pleaded guilty to one-count separate charge related to impersonation, were handed sentences reflecting the severity of their actions. The defendants were found guilty of fraudulent activities that involved impersonating individuals for financial gain, targeting unsuspecting foreign nationals.
The convicted individuals are as follows: 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, and Ogonna Samuel Okpataku. Also among the convicted 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.
One of the charges read in court specified, “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 intent to gain an 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.”
All twenty-five defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were presented before the court. In response to their pleas, the EFCC’s legal representatives, Ani Michael and Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence them appropriately.
Justice Dimkpa subsequently handed down a sentence of two years imprisonment each to twenty-two of the defendants, providing them with the option of a fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) should they choose to pay instead. In the cases of Onah, Aleke, and Nnachi, they received a caution and were detained in the court premises for eight hours before their release.
It is noteworthy that all twenty-five convicts had previously been incarcerated in a Correctional Center after their arrest for internet-related offenses. Subsequently, they were charged and tried in court, leading to their convictions.
