Court Jails Four Internet Fraudsters in Calabar

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar has convicted and sentenced the quartet of Itoro Eno Akpan, Abasifreke Uwem, Elisha Asuquo Nnah (a.k.a Jong Seck) and Ezinwa Emmanuel Ikenna to various jail terms  for internet  fraud.

The convicts were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate on  two-count  charges bordering on cybercrime, money laundering and impersonation.

The charge against Akpan reads: “That you Itoro Eno Akpan, sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did take possession of the sum of $400 (Four Hundred Dollars) which you reasonably ought to have known forms proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

That of Nnah reads: "That you, Elisha Asuquo Nnah (a.k.a Jong Seck) sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court took possession of $300 (Three Hundred US Dollars) knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022".

They all pled “guilty” when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, Kharmis Mahmud to review the facts of the cases, tendered the statements of the defendants , print out fictitious and misleading information from their communication devices, all of which were admitted in evidence and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced Akpan and Uwem to one year jail term on each of their two counts, which is to run concurrently. Furthermore, Akpan is to restitute the sum of $400 USD to his victim and Uwem to restitute $200 USD to his. Nnah and Ikenna were convicted and sentenced to two years jail term each on either of the two counts. In addition, Nnah is to restitute the sum of $300 to his victim while Ikenna is to restitute the sum of $800 to his. Furthermore, all their mobile devices are to be auctioned and the proceeds deposited into the federal government’s Treasury Account, while all the restitutions from the convicts would be lodged in the federal government treasury if the victims were not located.

The convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet fraud.  They were charged to court and convicted.