By Gom Mirian, Abuja

Justice S.M.Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, March 10, 2022, convicted Ohiosumuen Amos and Peter Atai Eduk for internet frauds. They were arraigned on one-count charge of impersonation and presentation of dud cheque.

The charge against Amos read: “That you Ohiosumuen Amos  (a.k.a Anabel Amos) sometime in May 2021 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Anabel Amos, a white woman with intent to obtain money from one Mass Thomas, a white man through a Gmail account: anabelanabeamos@gmail.com created by you and thereby committed an offence contrary the Section 22(2)(ii) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition Prevention Etc) Act , 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(IV) of the same Act”. The charge against Eduk read:” that you Peter Antai Eduk (doing business in the name  and style of Antai Mart Ventures) on or about the 31st December 2020 in Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did fraudulently presented a Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc Cheque No: 00000058 to Edegbe Ugbogbo Nigeria Ltd  in the sum of Two Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand  Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira ( N2,664,790.00) knowing it to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section  1(2) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the revised edition ( Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2)(C) of the same Act.” 

They both pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel,  A.A.Ozigbu prayed the court to convict and sentence them.Justice Shuaibu convicted and sentenced Amos to three years imprisonment with an option of N300, 000 fine while Eduk is to serve five years imprisonment or pay a fine of N300,000.Justice Shuaibu added that items recovered from Amos during investigation be forfeited to Federal Government of NigeriaIn another development, Justice M. I. Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State conviction sentenced one Ejiofor Chibuzor to jail for his involvement in Internet fraud.

The one-count charge read: “That you Ejiofor Chibuzor sometime in January, 2022 in Makurdi, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Max William to chart with his friends with intent to gain advantage and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (a) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section 22 (2) (iv) of the Act”.The defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge filed against him by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC.

Upon his plea, the prosecution counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua prayed the Court to convict and sentence him as charged. Justice Afolabi thereafter, convicted and sentenced Chibuzor to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.00. He is to forfeit his aptop to be sold by auction by the Registrar of the Court with the supervision of the EFCC and the proceeds, paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Also one Adegunwa Oluwaseyi Ayuba was arraigned before Justice Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Lafia,  Nasarawa State on one-count charge, bordering on internet fraud.

The  charge read: “That you Adegunwa Oluwaseyi Ayuba sometime in June 2021 in Makurdi, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court used an access device (a login details and password) issued to another resulting to a gain of N3,300,000 (Three Million, Three Hundred  Thousand Naira) with which you purchased a white Acura Car with registration number Lagos FST 667 GK, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 33 (2) (C) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act”.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. Consequently, prosecution counsel, G. G. Chia-Yakua asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant. However, defence counsel, T. A. Ahmed informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution and the court. He therefore urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms. Justice Afolabi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5million with one surety in like sum who must be a civil servant not below GL 12.The case adjourned till May 24, 2022 for commencement of trial.