The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence
of one Al-Mustapha Isah Gupa and Qareeb Adekunle Yusuf
before Justice I. A Isiaka of the State High Court, sitting in
Kaduna.
They were prosecuted on a separate one-count
charge, bordering on cheating and impersonation.
The charge against Yusuf reads "That you Qareeb
Adekunle Yusuf (a.k.a Teddy Swims) (M), between January and April, 2025 at
Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, cheated several
unsuspecting victims of the total sum of $200.00USD (Two Hundred US Dollars)
when you falsely presented yourself as Teddy Swims, on Facebook (an online
social media application), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
308 of the Kaduna State Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of
the same Law."
That of Gupa reads: "That you, Al-Mustapha
Isah Gupa (a.k.a Ritchie Inman) on or about the 20th of April, 2024 in
Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one
Ritchie Inman (a white man) via Facebook platform and in such assumed
character, cheated unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code
Law 2017 and punishable under the same law."
They pleaded "guilty" to their charge
when it was read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka
and M. Arumemi to pray the the court to convict and sentence them accordingly,
while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper
justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their
actions.
Justice Isiaka sentenced Yusuf to three years
imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited $200.000 (Two
Hundred US dollars) as well as iPhone 11 Pro Max, being the tool of
his crime to the federal government.
Gupa also bagged three years imprisonment
or to pay N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand
Naira) fine. In addition to his jail term, he
forfeited iPhone 15 Pro Max, being the tool of his crime to the federal
government.
Gupa was arrested in Bafra Hotel, while
Yusuf was picked up at Command Junction area, all in Kaduna
metropolis.
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