Joseph Bakare
Justices R.M Aikawa and Darius Khobo of the Federal High Court and State High Court respectively, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced the quartet of Anthony Chukwu (a.k.a Carmelita Luna), Madaki Shamun Ismail (a.k.a Will Beal), Samson Aliyu (a.k.a John Dunwell) and Christopher Israel (a.k.a Bernie Dallas) to various jail terms for internet fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on one-count separate charges, bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering.
Chukwu’s charge reads: “That you, Anthony Chukwu (a.k.a Carmelita Luna)”M”, sometimes in December, 2023,in kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did directly acquire the sum of N520,000.00 (Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira), from Nelro Balmoria and other unsuspecting persons through false identity,which you knew that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed money laundering, an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition)2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
That of Aliyu reads: “That you Samson Aliyu (a.k.a John Dunwell), between January and May, 2024 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, committed an offence,t o wit: falsely presented yourself as John Dunwell, a white man and an investment broker with AZ Finance Investment Company. In that assumed character cheated several persons including one Lhes, the total sum of P2,000.00 (Two thousand Philippines Pesos) via instagram (an online social media application) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”
They pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them, upon which prosecution counsel Y J. Matiyak and M. J Argungu urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Aikawa convicted and sentenced Chukwu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), while Ismail bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition, both convicts forfeited the sum of N520,000.00 (Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) and $310 (Three Hundred and Ten Dollars) respectively, being proceeds of their crimes to the federal government as well as an iPhone XR and Samsung S21 mobile phones, being instruments of their crimes.
Justice Darius Khobo on his part convicted and sentenced Aliyu to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) and sentenced Israel to three years imprisonment or a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand and Fifty Thousand Naira). In addition, Aliyu forfeited $50, being the proceeds of his crime to the federal government, while both forfeited their phones, being instruments of their crimes to the federal government.
Chukwu, Aliyu and Israel were arrested in Kaduna, while Ismail was arrested in Jos following credible intelligence on their fraudulent internet activities.