Justice Dehinde I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, sentenced Ikpaka Courage, a philosophy graduate, to two years imprisonment for impersonating Nigerian singer Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, to defraud a U.S. citizen of $53,000. Courage was arraigned by the Lagos Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge of cybercrimes and money laundering.
According to the charges, Courage, in April 2021, falsely presented himself as Flavour on his Telegram account to deceive Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson, promising to perform at her birthday event in Washington, D.C. in July 2021. He received $53,000 through a Bitcoin wallet he created specifically for the scam. He also forged a Nigerian passport data page and a fictitious email address to communicate with the victim.
Courage pleaded guilty to the charges. During the hearing, EFCC operative Azibagiri Dan Ekpar testified, confirming Courage’s involvement in a dating scam and detailing his impersonation tactics. The court was presented with evidence, including Courage’s statement, bank records, chat transcripts with the victim, and Bitcoin wallet statements from Binance.
Courage’s defense counsel, Bayo A. Phillip, pleaded for leniency, citing his client’s status as a first-time offender who used the scam proceeds to further his education rather than for a lavish lifestyle. Justice Dipeolu sentenced Courage to one year imprisonment on each of the two counts, with an option of a N1,000,000 fine for each count. The judge also ordered the restitution of the defrauded amount to Mrs. Thompson and remanded Courage in EFCC custody until compliance with the court’s order within 21 days.
Courage’s arrest on June 10, 2024, by the EFCC marked the beginning of his legal troubles, culminating in his conviction for internet fraud and subsequent sentencing.
