Tunde Bakare
Justices Hawaa Buhari and R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna have convicted and sentenced Owoyale Shuaib (a.k.a Mary Lisa Goklool), Oluwafemi Moses Oluwatosin (a.k.a Douglas Chiater) and Wisdom Sambo Sammy (a.k.a Prudent Jameson) to various jail terms for fraud.
The trio were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count separate charges, bordering on impersonation and cybercrimes.
The charge against Shuaib reads: “That you, Owoyale Shuaib (a.k.a Mary Lisa Goklool), Male, sometime in 2024 in Minna, Niger State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently made use of Mary Lisa Goklool unique identification feature to one R.r.r (a Spanish Citizen) on Facebook chat (an online social media application) and in that assumed character gained advantage to yourself in the total sum of $20 USD (Twenty United States Dollar) from him, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (a) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
That of Sammy reads: “That you Wisdom Sambo Sammy (a.k.a Prudent James) (M) Sometime in 2024 at Minna, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently impersonated one Prudent James, on facebook, (an online social media application) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and 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.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel M.J Argungu prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Buhari sentenced Shuaib and Oluwatosin to four and two years imprisonment respectively or to pay a fine of N 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) each, while Justice Aikawa sentenced Sammy to five years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N 500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to their prison terms, they forfeited their phones, being the tools of their crimes to the federal government.
The convicts were arrested in their Minna hideout, following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities.