Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court
sitting in Awka, Anambra State has convicted and sentenced 10 internet
fraudsters to various jail terms.
The convicts are; Onyekwulu Lawrence Obiajulu,
Onyedikachi Favour Eze, Olisa Philemon Olijo, Okafor Shedrack Chidindu, Ogbodo
Chisom Ugochukwu, Nweke Godswill Chinemerem, Oseloka Ogo Patrick, Nnaji Pascal
Chijioke, Chibueze Obumneme Frank-Gabriel and Ibekwe Jonathan.
They were prosecuted by the Enugu zonal Directorate of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate charges,
bordering on impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money
laundering.
One of the charges against Olijo reads: “That you,
Olisa Philemon Olijo sometime in 2025, at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the
Federal High Court of Nigeria, directly retained the sum of N4,600,000 paid
into your account number 5492732757 domiciled with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank
which you reasonable ought to know forms part of the proceed of an unlawful act
and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (1) (2) (b) (d) (6) of
the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable
under Section 18 (3) of the same Act”.
The charge against Patrick reads: “That you, Oseloka
Ogo Patrick, “Male” (32years) sometime in 2025 in Enugu, within the
jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did have in your possession,
documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretences and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance
Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1
(3) of the same Act”.
They all pleaded “guilty” to their respective charges
when they were read to them. In view of their pleas, Assistant
Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani reviewed the facts of the
cases, tendered several documents and mobile phones which were admitted in
evidence as exhibits. The prosecution thereafter prayed the court to convict
and sentenced them accordingly.
However, defence counsel, James Nwatarali,
Wisdom Ogbonna and Onyechi Obiechina prayed the court to temper justice with
mercy in sentencing the convicts.
Justice Anyadike thereafter convicted them and
sentenced them as follows;
Eze, Chidindu, Ugochukwu, Chinemerem, Patrick,
Chijioke, Frank-Gabriel and Jonathan were sentenced to 16 months imprisonment,
with an option of fine of N150, 000( One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira)
each. While Olijo bagged 40 months imprisonment with an option of fine of
N250, 000( Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), Obiajulu was sentenced
to 8 months imprisonment with an option of fine of N100, 000 ( One Hundred
Thousand Naira).
The court further made the following orders;
Obiajulu was ordered to restitute the sum of N2
million to the Treasury Single Account of the Federation and to participate in
community service for two weeks which shall be supervised by the Deputy
Registrar of the court.
Olijo was ordered to restitute the sum of N5, 749,044(
Five Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand Naira, Forty Four
kobo) to the Treasury Single Account of the Federation. “Failure to make the
restitution, he shall serve a second prison term of two years”, the court said.
Chinemerem was ordered to restitute the sum of N700,
000( Seven Hundred Thousand Naira only) to the Treasury Single Account of the
Federation. The convict was also ordered to forfeit the sum of N29, 975.33(
Twenty Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira, Thirty
Three kobo) in his United Bank for Africa’s account number 2137892541, while
Jonathan was ordered to restitute the sum of N397, 000 ( Three Hundred and
Ninety Seven Thousand Naira) to the Treasury Single Account of the Federation.
The court thereafter ordered that items recovered
during investigations which include their mobile phones, be auctioned by the
Commission under the supervision of the Deputy Court Registrar , proceeds paid
into the TSA and the receipts filed in court.
The convicts were part of the 51 suspected internet
fraudsters arrested in May 2, 2025 at Premier Layout, Enugu State, following
actionable intelligence received, linking them to cybercrime activities.
