Five internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justices H. H. Kereng and Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Court for offenses ranging from impersonation and internet fraud to employment scam-related cheating.
The convicts, Illiyasu Mohammed, Dan Musa, Elisha Elkana, Nasiru Mohammed, and Saidu Mohammed Laddo were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe Zonal Directorate, between July 29 and July 30, 2025.
A press release by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said Mohammed and Musa were arraigned before Justice Kereng on a one-count charge of cheating and impersonation, while Elkana, Mohammed, and Laddo were arraigned before Justice Yakubu on charges bordering on cheating.
The charge against Nasiru Mohammed and Saidu Laddo revealed that in 2022, they deceived one Umar Musa into paying a total of ₦2,620,000 in exchange for helping him secure employment for his brothers in the Nigeria Immigration Service, an offer they knew to be false.
Similarly, Elisha Elkana was accused of collecting ₦300,000 from one Blessing Johnson in July 2024, under the pretext of repaying a debt to a third party, Jamila Adams.
The EFCC said Elkana diverted the money for personal use.
All five defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Prosecuting counsels S. E. Okemini and M. E. Ugbe urged the courts to convict them as charged. However, the defense counsels appealed for leniency.
Read also:
- EFCC arrests 25 BUK undergraduates over alleged internet fraud
- We’re probing 18 sitting state governors, reveals EFCC chairman
- EFCC secures conviction of 11 internet fraudsters in Kwara, over N7.3m, $2,487 forfeited
Justice H. H. Kereng subsequently sentenced Illiyasu Mohammed and Dan Musa to six months imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦50,000 fine.
Justice Abdulhamid Yakubu sentenced Elisha Elkana to 12 months imprisonment with an option of a ₦30,000 fine, while Nasiru Mohammed and Saidu Laddo were each sentenced to two years in prison with the option of a ₦100,000 fine.
In addition to the prison terms, the courts ordered the convicts to pay full restitution amounting to ₦2,920,000 to their victims.
Furthermore, a Samsung S8 and a Tecno Camon 16 smartphone, used in perpetrating the crimes—were forfeited to the federal government.
The EFCC noted that the convicts were initially arrested for various internet-related offenses before deeper investigations linked them to the criminal acts.
The anti-graft agency reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice and protecting the public from fraudsters who exploit unsuspecting individuals under false pretenses.
