Justice S. D. Pam of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, Victory Akpan, to two years jail term for impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.

He was convicted on Thursday, July 7, 2022 after pleading "guilty" to two- count charges bordering on impersonation, upon being arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC.

One of the count charges reads: "That you Victory Akpan on or about the 15th day of May 2022 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Thirty Dollars ($30) USD only from Buddy, a Pakistan Citizen, under the false pretence that you are investing in Crypto Currency business for him, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) (of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, E. K. Ebipade prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged. Counsel to the defendant, M. N. Adams prayed the court to temper justice with mercy stressing that the defendant is a first- time offender, with no previous criminal records.

Justice Pam convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00 )

The Judge also ordered that the iPhone 11 and the Infinix Hot 10 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the government.

Media & Publicity

7 July, 2022