By Gom Mirian, Abuja

Justice F. O. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, jailed three internet fraudsters, namelt: Stephan Isibor, Victor Keniyei and Rasheed Buraimoh

They were arraigned on one count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed, to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced the duo of Isibor and Keniyei to five years imprisonment with the option of N1 million fine each, while Buraimoh bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000.

The defendants are to forfeit their cars – Black Mercedes Benz GLE 2017 Model, Mercedes Benz C300 4matic 2003 Model and Toyota Rav4 – and mobile phones, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In addition, Isibor and Keneyei are to forfeit the balance in their various bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Furthermore, Isibor is to forfeit 0.157BTC equivalent of $7,462.15 that was recovered in his bitcoin account with Exedus to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The court also ordered them to undertake in writing to be of good behavior after serving their terms.

In another development, Justice Nathaniel Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Oshogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, jailed six internet fraudsters.

They  are: Peter Akanji Blessing, Omobuwa Oluwagbemileke Israel, Solarin Tayo Tunde, Opeyemi Damilola Ajadi, Agbaje Habeeb Boluwatife, and Adewale Adeparusi .
They were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Ibadan Zonal Command on charges of fraudulent impersonation, which is contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.

They were arrested following petitions on their luxurious lifestyles which raised suspicion of criminality. 

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the defendants converted their residences to hideouts to accommodate other internet fraudsters and perpetrate their criminal activities.

Items recovered from them, upon their arrests were electronic gadgets ranging from sophisticated computer systems, mobile devices, browsers, amongst others.

Upon their arraignment, they all pleaded guilty to the separate charges preferred against by the EFCC.

Justice Ayo-Emmanuel convicted and sentenced Solarin and Adewale to six months jail term each, while Omobuwa bagged five months imprisonment. Peter, Ajadi and Agbaje were sentenced to four months imprisonment each.

The convicts were ordered to restitute their victims and forfeits the items recovered from them to the Federal government of Nigeria.

The court further ordered that all they signed an undertaking to be of good behaviour after serving their terms.

Similarly, the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters in both the Federal High Court, and the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
Justice Professor C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court convicted and sentenced
Onuigbo Juliu Ikechuwu to five years imprisonment on a one court charge of impersonation for misrepresenting his identity to defraud an unsuspecting lady in China.

The charge against him reads: “That you, Onuigbo Juliu Ikechukwu (m) ( a.k.a Grayson Raymond, aka Mike) sometime in 2019 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud sent electronic messages which materially misrepresent facts as to your identity to a lady in China upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of Forty Thousand Yuan (equivalent of N1.9million) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(2)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015”.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Aham Ozigbu prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant.

Justice Obiozor convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000. He is also to forfeit his iPhone to the Federal Government and undertake in writing to be of good behavior henceforth.

In the same vein, Justice Efe Ikponwonba of the Edo State High Court convicted and sentenced Samuel Asenguah to two years imprisonment. The defendant was arraigned on one count charge of fraudulent impersonation of the identity of one Charles Melton with which he sought to defraud unsuspecting victims through his Instagram account.

Upon arraignment, he pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel, K. U. Udus, to ask the court to convict and sentence the defendant. Justice Ikponwonba convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with the option of N200, 000 fine.