The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of three cybercriminals before Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, bringing the number of internet fraud convictions recorded by the zone within 24 hours to 33.
The zone had, on Wednesday, secured 30 convictions before the same judge.
This was made known by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren.
The convicted internet fraudsters were arraigned separately on one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.
The convicts included Okei Morrison Onome, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide James and Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin.
Others were Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.
Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David Oluwatobi, Ereoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde Victor Temitope, Nurudeen Abiodun Imole and Adeboye Victor.
The charge against one of them read: “That you Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin on the 5th day of August 2021 at Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Michelle Orton, a white woman and citizen of the United States of America, in your Samsung S8 and email address [email protected], to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act.”
Three sureties who were also arraigned for the perversion of justice were Lewis Oghenekhene, Ughoshe Adolphus and Osazuwa Efosa Robertson.
The charge against Oghenekhene read: “That you Lewis Oghenekhene (m) on or about the 15th day of September 2020 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did knowingly make a false statement to Detective Ajisafe Wasiu, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in the course of the exercise of the duties of his office which statement is untrue in any material particular and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b)of the same Act.”
All the defendants had pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
The prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu and Ibrahim Mohammed, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the quartet of Imole, Olagoke Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul and Adekunle Joshua to three years imprisonment, with the option of N500,000 fine each.
The duo of Damilola Michael and David Oluwatobi were sentenced to two years imprisonment or N300,000 fine each, while others bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.
The three sureties bagged two years imprisonment with the option of N100,000 fine each.
In another ruling on Thursday, Justice Mohammed convicted Oladepo Olawale, Victor Benjamin and Adeboyega Muritala Idowu for impersonating foreign nationals in their attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Idowu was discovered to have falsely presented himself as Bendik Phillip and John Micepl to defraud an American citizen of $19,650.
The charge against Idowu read: “that you Adeboyega Muritala Idowu, aka Bendik Phillips, (John Micepl ) between 2019 and 2021 at Alagbaka area of Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, send messages which materially represented your identity to Mellisa, an American lady, upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of $19,650 (Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge, and in view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Jibro prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced Idowu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000, while the duo of Benjamin and Olawale bagged two years jail term with the option fine of N200,000 each.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N6.4 million recovered from Idowu’s bank account to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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EFCC gets convictions for 33 internet fraudsters in 24 hours in Port Harcourt
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