The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, secured the
conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters, Emmanuel Nwanze and Omogbe
Aroghene Justice, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court
sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
They were arraigned on one-count separate charge
of fraudulently impersonating foreign nationals.
The charge against Emmanuel reads: “That you EMMANUEL
NWANZE (Male), adult sometime in July, 2025 in Ayobola Daodu Street,
Sango-tedo, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court
fraudulently impersonated one Julienne Grundy by holding yourself out as such
on your Instagram Application with intent to gain advantage for yourself and
you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section
22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015”.
The charge against Omogbe reads: “That you OMOGBE
AROGHENE JUSTICE a.k.a JULIENNE GRUNDY on or about the 8th day of July, 2025,
in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful
authority, engaged in the disguise of the true source of the aggregate sum of
$550 (Five Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars), which sum you knew to be
proceeds of criminal conduct and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
and punishable under Section 18 (1)(d) and punishable under Section 18(2) of
the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (Establishment, etc) Act, 2004.”
They each pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they
were read to them
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel,
H.U. Kofarnaisa tendered the defendants’ extrajudicial statements, fraudulent
documents printed from their devices as well as their mobile devices and the
restitution of N300,000( Three Hundred Thousand Naira) made by Justice.
They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.
While Nwanze was sentenced to two years imprisonment,
with an option of fine in the sum of N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira), Justice
was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N100,000
(One Hundred Thousand Naira).
Their devices and the N300,000 restitution, were
ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre
began when they were arrested for internet-related crimes. They were
charged to court and jailed.
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