Joseph Bakare
Justices R.M Aikawa and Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced five persons to prison for fraud.
The convicts, Ibrahim Haruna, Abdullahi Yahaya, Daniel John (a.k.a Julieta), Benjamin Andrew Zagni (a.k.a Andrew Williams), Kenneth Barau (a.k.a Aisha Mohammed) were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The duo of Haruna and Yahaya faced a one-count charge of currency counterfeiting to the tune of $81,700 (Eighty-one Thousand Dollars, Seven Hundred Cents ) before Justice Justice Aikawa, while John, Zagni and Barau were prosecuted on separate one-count charges each. Their charges bordered on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, money laundering and cyber crimes before Justice Buhari.
The one-count charge against Haruna and Yahaya reads: “That you Ibrahim Haruna and Abdullahi Yahaya on or about the 9th May, 2024 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court had in your possession a total of eight hundred and seventeen (817) pieces of $100 USD (One hundred United State dollars) counterfeit notes when you knew that same are counterfeit and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 5(1)(b) and punishable under Section 5(1)(c) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act.”
The charge against John reads: “That you Daniel John (a.k.a Julieta),(M) between January and June, 2024 at Jos, Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, falsely presented yourself as Julieta; a white woman from Hungary on Facebook and telegram (both online social media applications) to one Keta Kelemenne, and in that assumed character gained advantage for yourself the total sum of $80.00 (Eighty United States Dollars ) from her, while claiming to assist her recover the money she had paid to previous online scammers, which you knew to be false and therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(b) of the Cybercrimes(Prohibition,
That of Zagni reads: “That you Benjamin Andrew Zagni (a.k.a Andrew Williams) sometimes in May, 2024 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, retained the total sum of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty 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.”
All the five pleaded “guilty” to their charges, following which prosecution counsel M.U Gadaka, M.U Gadaka and K. Ogunlade urged the Courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Aikawa convicted and sentenced Haruna and Yahaya to seven years imprisonment each or a fine of N700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively. John bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), while he convicted and sentenced Zagni to four years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice Buhari on her part convicted and sentenced Barau to two years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira).
In addition to their jail terms, John, Zagni and Barau forfeited their phones, being the instruments of their crimes to the federal government.
The threesome were arrested alongside other members of an internet fraud syndicate in Kaduna and Jos, Plateau State in a stake-out by operatives of the Commission following credible intelligence on their criminal internet activities.