The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on July, 5, 2022, conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters, one John Justine and Felix James Keke before Justice Darius Khobo, of a Kaduna State High Court, on charges that bordered on impersonation. While Justine was prosecuted on one count charge of impersonation and love scam, Keke faced a four count charge of impersonation.

The one count amended charge against Justine reads: " That you, John Justine 'M' sometime in July 2022 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud had in your possession forged documents titled "romantic relationship format" and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 349 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017”.

The suspect pleaded guilty to the one count amended charge when it was read to him.

Upon his guilty plea,Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment with an option of a fine of N100,000,00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).

John is also to forfeit one Apple iPhone 6S.

John's trouble started when he was arrested in a sting operation at Unguwan Rimi axis of Kaduna metropolis following intelligence reports on his involvement in cyber-fraud. Upon his arrest, a document found on him revealed that he assumed the identity of one Dwayne Young on his Facebook account through which he lured his victims(Lorena , Matilda and Tassica) into romantic relationships.

In the same vein, Felix James Keke was convicted and sentenced to three months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000,00 (One Hundred Thousand naira) on a four counts charge of Impersonation. He is to also forfeit one Apple iPhone 6S to the Federal Government.

Felix used twitter social media platform to impersonate one Aditya Singh, Blocchain Backer, Open4profit, and Bitcoin Expert India, and defraud unsuspecting victims.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Felix James Keke (M), sometime between February and June 2022 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in an attempt to commit Cybercrime impersonated one Aditya Singh on twitter, an on-line social media application, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017”.

Count three reads: “That you, Felix James Keke (M), sometime between February and June 2022 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in an attempt to commit Cybercrime impersonated one Open4profit on twitter, an on-line social media application, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017”.

The suspect pleaded guilty to all the four counts when they were read to him.

Media & Publicity
6 July, 2022