The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of five
internet fraudsters before Justices R.M.Aikawa of the Federal High
Court, sitting in Kaduna and D.H Khobo of the Kaduna State High
Court, sitting in Kaduna.
The convicts are, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a
Alessandra Bondani), Samson Adeoye Iyangbe (a.k.a Trans Anna Bella), Bashir
Kashim (a.k.a Hannah Barron) Merenini Ekene and Yakubu Musa.
While Yohanna, Iyangbe,
Kashim and Ekene were prosecuted before Justice Aikawa
on a separate one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and possession
of fraudulent documents, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds
of crime, Musa was prosecuted before Justice Khobo on
amended one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune
of N3million.
The charge against Yohanna reads: "That you,
Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani) male, sometime in 2023 in Jos,
Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, falsely
presented yourself as Alessandra Bondani; a white woman on Facebook and
Telegram (which are online social media applications) and in that assumed
character gained advantage for yourself the total sum of Two Hundred United
States Dollars ($200.00), which you knew to be false and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition,
Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the
same Act.”
The charge against Musa reads: "That you
Yakubu Musa sometime in 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court dishonestly misappropriated a certain property to wit: the
total sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only, property belonging to
Thalmon Friday, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
308 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 1999 and punishable under Section 308 of
the same Law.”
They all pleaded "guilty" to their
charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, K.S
Ogunlade, F.A.I Asemebo and M. Lawa prayed the court to convict
and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel
pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that
their clients have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice R.M.Aikawa convicted and sentenced Yohanna to
five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred
Thousand Naira) fine. In addition he forfeited the sum
of $200.00, being proceeds of his crime, one Redmi
13c phone and one Dell laptop computer being tools of his crime
to the federal government.
Iyangbe bagged five years imprisonment
or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira )
fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $15.00 (Fifteen
United StatesDollars), being the proceeds of crime and one Gionee phone,
being the tool of his crime to the federal government.
Kashim was convicted and sentenced to five
years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $500.00 (Five
Hundred United States Dollars) being the proceeds of crime, one iPhone 14
pro Max mobile phone and one Samsung A14 mobile phone, being the tools of his
crime in favour of the federal government.
Ekene on his part, bagged five years
imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his
Techno Smart 4 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the
federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yohanna and Iyangbe were arrested in
Jos, Plateau State, while Kashim and Ekene were arrested in Minna,
Niger State following actionable intelligence that linked them to
fraudulent internet activities.
Justice Khobo sentenced Musa to one year
imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand
Naira) In addition, he is to restitute his victim the sum
of N3million (Three Million Naira).
Musa’s road to jail began following his
victim’s petition that in 2014 that he, Musa, being his
inlaw informed him that there is a plot of land at Mahuta
area of Kaduna State for sale at the cost of N3million, of which
he became interested and transferred the money to
him. While Musa never bought the land, all efforts to
recover the money from him proved abortive.
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