A Federal High Court sitting in
Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, presided over by Justices H. I. O. Oshomah and M. T.
Segun-Bello has convicted and sentenced thirty-nine (39) internet fraudsters to
different jail terms.
The convicts were jailed after pleading
guilty to a one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false
presence, personation and possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment
by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC.
The convicts are, Udeh Chimuanya John,
Nnadi Raphael Ogomegbunam, Ani Mmesoma Emmanuel, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, Onoja
Chukwuemeka Miracle, Frank Egesionu, Nze Uchenna Divine,ss Ikegwu Matthew Chukwuma, Ugwu Henry
Izuchukwu, Chidiobi Kelechi Sylvester, Erozona Emmanuel Omeya, Aruma Chidiebere
Emmanuel, Amaechi Shiloh Chukwuelotam, Ajibo Sunday Chiweokwu, Amadi Mbakaogu,
Emeka Ogwa, Miracle Ezema Ebube, Nwobodo Joel Obinna, Eze Emmanuel, Raymond
Ugochukwu Emmanuel and Amah Matthew Olumachi.
Others include; Oparaukwu Udoka Justice,
Philip Nnabuike Ozoani, Chukwueze Emmanuel Onuh, David Emeka, Henry Chinenyerem
Ogbodo, Ebube Testimony Omeje, Emmanuel Stanley Odoh, Terzungwe Isaac Utor,
Tersoo Stanley Ukume, Ugwu Christian Tochukwu, Omeje Favour Chimdalu, Henry
Abara Ekom, Ajibo Kingsley Ebube, Nuka Christian Lucky, Obioha Chidiebube
Gratus, Eze Marcel Uchenna, Enwu Stephen Chimdindu and Chinedu Nelson.
The charge against Ezema reads: “That
you, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, sometime in September, 2024 in Nsukka, Enugu State
within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, fraudulently impersonated one
Patricia Lambert, a foreign national, through a fake Telegram account via your
IPhone 14 Pro mobile phone, with intent to gain advantage for yourself from
your unsuspecting victims and you thereby committed an offense contrary to
Section 22 (3) (a) and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.)
Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
The Charge against Chidera reads: “That
you, Ezeh Emmanuel Chidera,
sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of
Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of Wei Yiming, a male foreigner
and citizen of United Arab Emirates who works as a Chief Medical Officer, via
your Tecno Spark 7, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign
nationals and in order to gain advantage for yourself and you 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”.
The convicts pleaded guilty when the
charges were read to them separately and in view of their pleas, Michael
Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the defence counsel; Wisdom
Ogbonna, B. E. Enyiagu, C. C. Osi-Ogbonna, Remy Agu and E. C. Chinenyeze
pleaded for leniency and to temper justice with mercy, adding that the convicts
were remorseful, as they have learnt their lessons.
Justice H. I. O. Oshomah, on Monday,
September 23, 2024, convicted and sentenced 30 of the convicts to two years
imprisonment each with an option of fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Naira) except Ukume who was given an option of fine of N200,00( Two
Hundred Thousand Naira) while on Friday, September 27, 2024, Justice M. T.
Segun-Bello, convicted and sentenced Tochukwu, Ebube, Lucky, Gratus, Uchenna,
Chimdindu, Nelson, Ekom and Chimdalu to three years imprisonment each with an
option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira)
Justice Oshomah further made the
following orders;
Odoh was ordered to forfeit to the
Federal Government, his three plots of land located at Sweetvilla Phase 3 in
Tagbati, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State;
Ukume was ordered to forfeit the sum of
N2,873,295.00 (Two Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy-three Thousand, Two
hundred and Ninety-five Naira) to the Federal Government and Utor was ordered
to forfeit the sum of N1,000,000(One million naira to the Federal Government).
The Justices also ordered that their
mobile phones be auctioned by the Deputy Court Registrar of the court and
proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federation. Convicts were
also ordered to submit their Bank Verification Numbers and their National
Identification Numbers to the court which will also be verified by the Deputy
Court Registrar after which they will swear to affidavits of good behavior and
another affidavit, showing that they have complied with the submission of their
particulars.
The convicts were remanded at the
Abakaliki Correctional facility, until they comply with the conditions.
The convicts were arrested on September
9, 2024 in Nsukka and Enugu metropolis by operatives of the Commission,
following actionable intelligence linking them to cybercrimes activities.
