Joseph Bakare
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of five fraudsters before Justice A.A.Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The convicts are: Justine Chikeleze Onyedikachukwu, David Udoka Okafor, Godwin Favour Udoh, Ifeanyi Franklin Ogobue and Chinedu Mukolu Obed.
They were arraigned on July 12, 2024 on separate charges bordering on money laundering, contrary to Section 18 (2) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same law and Impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition and Prevention Act, 2022.)
They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Okongwu Ebuka and Ridwan Alabi, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Okeke sentenced Onyedikachukwu to two months imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run concurrently and the Iphone 12 mobile phone and Samsung laptop computer recovered from him were forfeited to the Federal Government.
Favour was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment on count one of money laundering and three months on count two of impersonation. The sentences are to run concurrently . The Iphone 12pro max and IPhone 11 recovered from him were forfeited also to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Udoh was also convicted and sentenced to one-month imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run concurrently. The judge ordered the forfeiture of his IPhone XS Max to the Federal Government.
The judge also sentenced Ogobue to two months imprisonment on count one and two months on count two. The sentences are to run concurrently. Justice Okeke also ordered the forfeiture of his Iphone 12pro max to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
During his trial, Obed pleaded “guilty” to the amended two counts of money laundering and impersonation. Though he was discharged on count one of money laundering, he was convicted on count two bordering on impersonation and sentenced to two months imprisonment.
His IPhone 12 Pro Max was forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet offences. They were charged to court and convicted.