Kaduna Courts Jail Three for Fraud

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of the trio of Justine Richard, Sadiq Ibrahim and Anthony Musa before Justices M.J. Zailani and A. Isyaka of the Kaduna State High Court and R.M.Aikawa of the Federal High Court, all sitting in Kaduna, the state capital. 

Richard was prosecuted on a one-count charge, bordering on criminal impersonation before Justice Zailani. 

The charge reads: "That you Justine Richard (Luke Grimes), between January and June 2025, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence, to wit: falsely presented yourself as Luke Grimes to several unsuspecting victims via 'Facebook' (an online social media application), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.” 

He pleaded "guilty" to the charge, following which prosecution counsel, M.Lawal prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, while his counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the he has become remorseful for his action.  

Justice Zailani, thereafter, convicted and fined him N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition, he forfeited his Samsung Galaxy A10S mobile phone to the federal government, being the instrument of his crime. 

Ibrahim was prosecuted on a one-count charge that bordered on criminal impersonation and internet fraud before Justice R.M.Aikawa. 

His charge reads: "That you Sadiq Ibrahim (a.k.a Laura Farms), sometime in April, 2025 in Minna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Laura Farms (a United States of America citizen) on Facebook (a social media platform) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc)Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.” 

He pleaded "guilty" to his charge, upon which the prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka asked the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. 

Justice Aikawa sentenced him to five years imprisonment or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Samsung Galaxy S10e, being the tool of his crime to the federal government. 

Ibrahim was among the suspects arrested by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in Mahuta axis of the state capital following intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities. 

Musa was prosecuted on a one-count charge that bordered on dishonesty and diversion of funds to the tune of N2,300,000.00 (Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) before Justice Isyaka 

The charge reads: "That you Anthony Musa (m), on or about the 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being in the employment of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, dishonestly diverted the total sum of N2,300,000.00 (Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 274 of the Kaduna State Code Penal Code Law, 2017.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge, following which the prosecution lawyer, M.O Arumemi urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Isyaka sentenced and convicted him to two years imprisonment or to pay N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.

Musa was among those arrested by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following a petition by Guaranty Trust Bank, alleging that its staffers were doing dry posting of monies without financial backup and using the bank computers assigned to them to make credits for his own personal benefit. The other two members of staff of the bank have earlier been convicted.