A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi presided over by Justices M.S.Abubakar and R.J.Egbe has convicted and sentenced ten internet fraudsters to various jail terms,
They were prosecuted on a one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining by false presence and possession of fraudulent documents by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Makurdi Zonal Directorate.
The convicts are: Abugu Clement Kelechi, Samuel Moses Ogbonna, Samuel Sylvester Ogbu, Scott King David, Esua Ablaku Peter, Obinna Ejike, Austine Okwori, Clement David Onoja, Austine Nyagou Bur and Henry Adah Abah.
The charge against Abugu Clement Kelechi reads: That you Abugu Clement Kelechi “M” 21 yrs between April and August 2024 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently sent electronic messages by which you represented yourself to be one ” Jennifer Albert” a female Spanish Doctor residing in Afghanistan on Facebook and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 14(3) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under same Section of the Act.
The charge against Scott King David reads: That you, Scott King David sometime between 2023 and 2024 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Professor Bartacco Valeria, a Research Professor from the University of Michigan by fraudulently using his identity through the internet to create fake social media profiles with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (1) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.
All the defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Consequently, the facts of the cases were reviewed and incriminating documents were tendered in evidence before the court, following which the prosecuting counsel Ramiah Ikhanaede, Yusuf Musa, A.S Idris, and Almustqpha Gazali urged the court to sentence them accordingly.
The judges convicted and sentenced Abugu Clement Kelechi to one year imprisonment with an option of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) as a fine.
Samuel Moses Ogbonna was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as a fine.
Samuel Sylvanus Ogbu was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N150,000.00 as a fine.
Henry Abah Adah was convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of N100,000.00 as a fine.
Scott King David was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N150,000.00 as a fine.
Austine Bur Nyajor was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment or an option of N200,000.00( Two Hundred Thousand Naira) as a fine.
Clement David Onoja was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment or an option of N2,5000,000.00 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira ) as a fine.
Ablaku Peter, Obinna Ajike, Austine Okwori, and Scoot King David bagged one-year imprisonment each with an option of a fine of N100,000.00( One Hundred Thousand Naira ) each.
In a related development, the Makurdi Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, arrested sixteen suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Akphe Road, Makurdi Metropolis.
They were arrested following credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet fraud.
Items recovered from them include a Honda Accord car and phones.
They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
(EFCC)
