Justice P. I . Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced the duo of Favour Otogbo and Anawanti Finbar to various jail terms for impersonation and possession of fake documents

They were convicted on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 after pleading "guilty" to two-count separate charges preferred against them upon being arraigned by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

One of the count charges reads,

“That you Favour Otogbo between 1st of July to 30th of July, 2021 in Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court fraudulently represented yourself on Instagram as a Marine Engineer from Houston, Texas in the United States of America (USA) with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.

They pleaded "guilty" to the charges preferred against them by the prosecution.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsels, F. O. Amama and F. C. Obinwa, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants as charged. However, counsels to the defendants, D. L. Davies and O. C. Nwanarah prayed the court to temper justice with mercy stating that they are first-time offenders with no previous criminal records.

Justice Ajoku convicted and sentenced Otogbo to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Judge also ordered that the PS5 Console and a white- coloured iPhone X recovered from the convict in the course of arrest, be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also, the convict should restitute to the victim the sum of $1,500 which was the amount fraudulently obtained.

Finbar, on the other hand, bagged a jail term of one year with an option of fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also ordered to forfeit a Tecno CX air mobile phone recovered from him to the government.

In addition, the two convicts are ordered to depose to an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.

Their journey to the Correctional Service started when they were arrested during a raid conducted by the Commission on June, 1 2022 around Borokiri and Ada George area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Investigation linked them to internet fraud and criminal impersonation of foreigners. They were prosecuted and convicted.

Media & Publicity

23 July, 2022