Justice P. M. Ayua of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to various jail terms in Port Harcourt.
The convicts: Godwin Egwenike Ifeanyi, Donatus Peter Uche, Peculia Ikechukwu, Chibueke Aguta Basil and Gift Kalu were jailed for impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
They were convicted on Thursday, 20 October, 2022, after pleading "guilty" to separate charges preferred against them by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the EFCC.
The charge against IfeanyI reads: "That you, Godwin Egwenike Ifeanyi sometime in June 2022 at Choba axis of Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently obtained from one Merryl Carter the sum of Two Hundred Australian Dollars ($200) under the false pretence that you are a white American Crypto trader which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The charge against Uche reads: “That you, Donatus Peter Uche (aka Ikechukwu Peter Suga) sometime in November, 2021 at Port Harcourt Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained Gift Cards valued Four Thousand, Five Hundred United States Dollars ($4,500) from one Jazmin Cisneros, a female American through your Instagram google chats with user name, Suga under the false pretence that you are a Korean Celebrity in love with her which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, A. Chukwueggu, and I. N. Nwozu prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Counsel to the defendants, O. A. Agumagu, T. Ogaree, Igoh Owhonda-Wopara, E. Eleanya and H. P. Robert prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the defendants are first time offenders with no previous criminal records.
Justice Ayua convicted and sentenced the defendants to two years in prison with option of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) as fine
In a similar vein, the Judge also convicted and sentenced Basil to one year in the Correctional Service with One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) as fine.
Furthermore, Ikechukwu and Kalu were also convicted and sentenced to two years in the Correctional Service or N200,000.00 as fine payable.
The Judge ordered that the iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Redmit Note 7 and Infinix Note 7 mobile phones which they used in committing the crime be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are to be sold via public auction by the EFCC and the proceeds paid into the Commission’s Recovery Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Media & Publicity
21 October, 2022