Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on Friday, July 22, 2022, convicted and sentenced one Godspower Hassan to two year imprisonment for fraud.

Hassan was arraigned on two count charge by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC for fraudulent impersonation.

Count one reads: “That you, Godspower Hassan, on or about the 10th January, 2021, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Abubakar Yusuf and one Olami Abiodun, with intent to obtain the sum of Three Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N314 500.00) only from Account No. 0240122666 domiciled in GTB Bank operated by one Akpelan Terhember Vincent via Airopay Accounts to Wema Bank account No. 0247717860 operated by you and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act”.

Count two reads: “That you, Godspower Hassan, on or about the 13th January, 2021, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Abubakar Yusuf and one Olami Abiodun, with intent to obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Naira (N275 000.00) only from Account No. 0106762694 domiciled in GTB Bank operated by Bulus Sambo via Airopay Acconts into Wema Bank Account No. 0247717860 being operated by you and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act”.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.

In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, George Chai-Yakua prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. However, the defence counsel, T. P. Akaa pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant is a first time offender who has become remorseful for his action.

Justice Dogo convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment or a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira.

The judge also ordered that the convict’s bank account number 0247717860 domiciled in Wema Bank be closed and balance be forfeited to Federal Government of Nigeria.

Media & Publicity

22 July, 2022