Joseph Bakare
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of four internet fraudsters.
The convicts: Abdulrashid Umar, Ekemini Godwin, Anozie Emmanuel and Freedom John were jailed by Justice M. Adamu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court Maitama on a one- count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
Godwin’s count reads, “That you Ekemini Godwin sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Ryan Williams, a citizen of United States of America via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $520 (Five Hundred and Twenty United States Dollars) from one Hae-Yun who is from Pennsylvania and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”
Emmanuel’s count reads, “That you Anozie Emmanuel sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Scammerpayback claiming to be a recovery person via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $300 (Three Hundred United States Dollars) from one Ahabeb Ycehpeab who is from Krygystan and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”
They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel S.N. Robert to pray the Court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Adamu convicted and sentenced Umar to one year prison term or a N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, Godwin, Emmanuel and John were sentenced to two years imprisonment each. While Godwin was fined N800, 000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira), Emmanuel was fined N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) and John got a N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.
Justice Adamu further ordered that all phones which were used as instruments to carry out their crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were later subsequently charged to Court and convicted.