A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, presided over by Justices H. I. O. Oshomah and M. T. Segun-Bello has convicted and sentenced thirty-nine (39) internet fraudsters to different jail terms.
The convicts were jailed after pleading guilty to a one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false presence, personation and possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The convicts include: Udeh Chimuanya John, Nnadi Raphael Ogomegbunam, Ani Mmesoma Emmanuel, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, Onoja Chukwuemeka Miracle, Frank Egesionu, Nze Uchenna Diviness Ikegwu Matthew Chukwuma, Ugwu Henry Izuchukwu, Chidiobi Kelechi Sylvester, Erozona Emmanuel Omeya, Aruma Chidiebere Emmanuel, Amaechi Shiloh Chukwuelotam, Ajibo Sunday Chiweokwu, Amadi Mbakaogu, Emeka Ogwa, Miracle Ezema Ebube, Nwobodo Joel Obinna, Eze Emmanuel, Raymond Ugochukwu Emmanuel and Amah Matthew Olumachi.
Others are: Oparaukwu Udoka Justice, Philip Nnabuike Ozoani, Chukwueze Emmanuel Onuh, David Emeka, Henry Chinenyerem Ogbodo, Ebube Testimony Omeje, Emmanuel Stanley Odoh, Terzungwe Isaac Utor, Tersoo Stanley Ukume, Ugwu Christian Tochukwu, Omeje Favour Chimdalu, Henry Abara Ekom, Ajibo Kingsley Ebube, Nuka Christian Lucky, Obioha Chidiebube Gratus, Eze Marcel Uchenna, Enwu Stephen Chimdindu and Chinedu Nelson.
The charge against Ezema reads: “That you, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, sometime in September, 2024 in Nsukka, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Patricia Lambert, a foreign national, through a fake Telegram account via your IPhone 14 Pro mobile phone, with intent to gain advantage for yourself from your unsuspecting victims and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
The Charge against Chidera reads: “That you, Ezeh Emmanuel Chidera, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of Wei Yiming, a male foreigner and citizen of United Arab Emirates who works as a Chief Medical Officer, via your Tecno Spark 7, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and in order to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.
The convicts pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them separately and in view of their pleas, Michael Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the defence counsel; Wisdom Ogbonna, B. E. Enyiagu, C. C. Osi-Ogbonna, Remy Agu and E. C. Chinenyeze pleaded for leniency and to temper justice with mercy, adding that the convicts were remorseful, as they have learnt their lessons.
Justice H. I. O. Oshomah, on Monday, September 23, 2024, convicted and sentenced 30 of the convicts to two years imprisonment each with an option of fine of N150,000 except Ukume who was given an option of fine of N200,000 while on Friday, September 27, 2024, Justice M. T. Segun-Bello, convicted and sentenced Tochukwu, Ebube, Lucky, Gratus, Uchenna, Chimdindu, Nelson, Ekom and Chimdalu to three years imprisonment each with an option of fine of N100,000.
Justice Oshomah further made the following orders;
Odoh was ordered to forfeit to the Federal Government, his three plots of land located at Sweetvilla Phase 3 in Tagbati, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State;
Ukume was ordered to forfeit the sum of N2.873 million to the Federal Government and Utor was ordered to forfeit the sum of N1 million to the Federal Government.
The Justices also ordered that their mobile phones be auctioned by the Deputy Court Registrar of the court and proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federation. Convicts were also ordered to submit their Bank Verification Numbers and their National Identification Numbers to the court which will also be verified by the Deputy Court Registrar after which they will swear to affidavits of good behavior and another affidavit, showing that they have complied with the submission of their particulars.
The convicts were remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional facility, until they comply with the conditions.
The convicts were arrested on September 9, 2024 in Nsukka and Enugu metropolis by operatives of the Commission, following actionable intelligence linking them to cybercrimes activities.
