The Enugu Zonal Command of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 37 internet fraudsters.
Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu convicted and sentenced the fraudsters on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, and Thursday, July 22, 2022, the Commission said in a statement shared on its website on Monday.
Those convicted include Uchechukwu Ani, Nnamdi Ugwu, Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ebube, Chijioke Christian, Obaji Charles Imoke, Nwafor Victor Somkenechukwu, Chibuzor Okeke, Samuel Great, Ukandu Benedict, Augustine Akpos Austin, Chinwendu Okoh, Nnamdi Moses Tochukwu, Eze Onyebuchi Hillary, Emmanuel Alex Akwakolam, Chiemerie Samuel, Nwaojeh Emeka, Somtochi Collins Eze and Dike Emmanuel Chidiebere.
Others are Chukwudi Okeke, Enete Ontekachi Gideon, Obeta Ifeanyi, Utoatuonu Osita, Ejiofor Okwuchukwu, Somtochuchukwu Promise Ezeanyagu, Ifeanyi Joseph Ikeh, Azuka Michael, Nnaemeka Ejebu, Edafe menford Odio, Emmanuel Chika Eneanya, Markanthony Emeka Akabuike, Chinemerem David Egwuatu, Arinze Maduka Samuel, Okeke Oluebube, Christian Ifesinachi Okoye, Awanya Jidechukwu, Ugwuagbo Stephen Nnaemeka and Obi Chinedu Edison.
The EFCC prosecuted the convicts on separate one-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.
The charge against one of the convicts, Chibuzor Okeke, reads, “That you, Chibuzor Okeke sometime in July 2022 in Ifite Isu, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court impersonated by presenting yourself as Dolores, a Brazilian woman who is a specialist in cryptocurrency investment to one Zafar, a Turkish National on Telegram using your Redmi10s Phone and by so doing did obtain the sum of ($1,500) One Thousand Five Hundred American Dollars by false pretences and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015.”
All the convicts pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their plea, Justice Buba convicted and sentenced them to one-year imprisonment with an option of N1,000,000 fine each. The court also ordered that their mobile phones be sold and the proceeds remitted to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
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Meanwhile, 34 internet fraud suspects have been arrested by the operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of Commission in Oyo State.
The Commission said 21 of the suspects were arrested Monday, July 25, 2022, in a sting operation at Apete and Ijokodo areas of Ibadan, Oyo state.
The suspects include Paul Uche Obinna, Ola Kareem, Dazumi Hammed Adeiza, Olamilekan Gabriel Ahmed, Olowe Nifemi Michael, Osisi Ikenna Nicholas, Dazumi Abdullahi Razak, Adejuyigbe Abayomi Babatunde, Adesokan Afeez Afolabi, Tobiloba Joshua Adejuyi, Dazumi Azeez Jayeola, Ayegbusi Olamilekan Micheal and Mubarak Salaudeen Opeyemi.
Others are Ibrahim Muhammed Hassan, Salam Ademola Samson, David Sunday Chukwudi, Kolapo Abdulrazak Seyi, Lawal Adesina Sheriff, Faeji Tobiloba Raphael, Bello Ibrahim Damilola and Abisoye Israel Olamilekan.
According to the EFCC, the remaining 13 suspects were arrested on Friday, July 22, 2022, at Airport Road, Alakia and Ologuneru, Ibadan.
It gave the name of the suspects as Salami Ayo Wisdom, Afeez Sode Gbolahan, Abdulkadiri Ojo Adams, Awe Olabiyi Omotayo, Adeniyi Auwal Tomiwa, Abudu Olamiotan Sunday, Ayomide Adeniyi Surajudeen, Olasunkanmi Quadri Adewale, Oladotun Kunle Tijani, Adekunle Damilare Elijah, Abudu Kayode Donald, Eyinla Temitayo Emmanuel, and Adekunle Imole Ayo.
The Commission recovered exotic cars, laptops, different brands of mobile phones, and several fraudulent documents from the suspects during the operations.
“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed,” EFCC said.
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