Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court,
sitting in Kano, Kano State has convicted and sentenced 12 people to
jail for multiple fraud.
The convicts are: Michael Yakubu, Udo
Promise Jonah, Promise Isah Ibrahim, Samuel Odeh, Abdulsamad Muhammad, Agboeze
Chibueke Ernest, Ochuba Chigozie, Abu David Eleojo, David Aaron, Chidi Destiny
Chidiebere, Collins Noel, and Ola Ajibola.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal
Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on
separate one-count charge, bordering on cybercrime, impersonation,
retention of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The charge against Yakubu reads: "That you
Michael Yakubu (a.k.a Beksolk_official), sometimes in April, 2025 at Nasarawa
State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently
impersonated one Beksolk_Official (a United States of America citizen) on
Instagram (a social media platform) and in such assumed character obtained
the sum of $300 (Three Hundred USD) from unsuspecting victims 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.”
That
of Chigozie reads: “That you Ochuba
Chigozie, sometime in April, 2025 in Tammah Nasarawa State, within
the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the total sum of
$200.00 (Two Hundred United States Dollars) which you knew that such fund
forms part of 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 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded "guilty" to their
charge, following which the prosecution counsel, M. Lawal and
M.U Gadaka asked 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 of their
actions.
Justice Shuaibu sentenced Chigozie and Eleojo to five
years imprisonment,
respectively or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred
Thousand Naira) fine, each. In addition,
Chigozie forfeited an Infinix X68IIB mobile phone and the
sum of $200 (Two Hundred Dollars), while Abu forfeited iPhone 14
Promax and the sum of $300 (Three Hundred Dollars).
Aaron, Yakubu, Jonah and Odeh were sentenced to five
years imprisonment each or to pay N400,000.00 (Four
Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition, Aaron
forfeited iPhone II and the sum of $400 (Four Hundred United States
Dollars), Yakubu forfeited Oppo A18 mobile phone and
the sum of $300.00 (Three Hundred Dollars), Jonah forfeited Samsung
Galaxy S21 and the sum of $200.00 (Two Hundred Dollars), while Odeh
forfeited Redmi 13C mobile phone and the sum of $30 (Thirty
USD).
Chidiebere was convicted and sentenced to four years
imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPad Pro II and the
sum of $100 (One Hundred United States Dollars).
Noel, Ajibola and Ernest were convicted and sentenced
to two years imprisonment respectively or to pay
N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, each. In addition,
Noel forfeited iPhone 16 Plus, Ajibola forfeited Infinix Hot
40i mobile phone and the sum of $350.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars), while Agboeze forfeited an Apple
laptop computer, and the sum of $190 (One Hundred and Ninety
Dollars).
Ibrahim and Muhammad were convicted and sentenced to
three years imprisonment, respectively or to pay
N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine, each. Ibrahim forfeited iPhone 12 and the sum
of $115 (One Hundred and Fifteen Dollars), while Muhammad forfeited iPhone
16 and the sum of $260. (Two Hundred and Sixty Dollars).
All the forfeitures are to the
federal government.
The convicts were arrested in Nassarawa and
Niger State following credible intelligence that exposed
their fraudulent internet activities.
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