The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Command, has secured the conviction and sentencing of twenty two (22 )internet fraudsters.
They were jailed by Justice Fatun Riman of the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The convicts are: Sunday Uchenna Jude, Paschal Aniagor Tobechukwu,Prosper Nnachetam, David Ahams Chinyereugo, Nwaike Emmanuel Onyedikachi, Ezugwu Chidera Kennedy, Ezurike Chibueze Okorie, Ikechukwu Dirichukwu, Ahamefula Wisdom Metuobi, Nwaike John Kennedy,Ike Chikezie Frank and Damian Chinaemerem.
Others are: Nwakaibeya Chibueze Stanley,Chukwuebuka Ohaeri Favour,
Nwaike John Franklin,Emmanuel Chinemerem Marvelous, Onuigbo Kingsley Chigozie, Henry Chukwualuka,Chukwuemeka Godwin Ogbubor, Dike Obinna Collins Ebuka Ilouno and Ngadi Chima.
They were convicted on Monday October 24 and Tuesday, October 25, 2022, after pleading guilty to one- count separate charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences.
The charge against Ebuka Ilouno reads,” That you, Ebuka Ilouno sometime in 2022 in Enugu ,within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of PATRICK BRYAN, a male foreigner who lives in Dayton ,Ohio, United States of America through a fake Facebook account, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and in order to gain financial advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3) (a)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(4)of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them.
Based on their pleas, EFCC counsel, Michael Ani and S.N Ingawa prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Riman convicted all the 22 defendants and sentenced them to one year imprisonment each, with an option of N150, 000(One Hundred and Fifty-Thousand Naira) as fine.
All the convicts forfeited their phones to the Federal Government.
Media & Publicity
26 October, 2022