Six internet fraud kingpins: Idris Ibrahim, Oghenewowero Teddy Emmanuel, Hillary Ifeanyi Nwosu, Friday Iwhighuavwe, Abasii Biangake Willie and Richard Welle Chikodi were on Thursday October 27, 2022 convicted and sentenced to various terms by Justices P. M. Ayua, A. T. Mohammed and P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a separate one-count charge of impersonation contrary to section 22 (2) b (i) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015”.
The charge against Idris reads: “That you, Idris Ibrahim sometimes in September, 2022 at , Warri, Delta State within the within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently represented yourself as investor working with a brokerage platform "trading composure" on WhatsApp business account with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (2) b (i) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act".
Nwosu's charge reads: "That you, Hillary Ifeanyi Nwosu on or about 4th day of August, 2022, at Rukpokwu and Choba axis in Port Harcourt, did fraudulently represent yourself as one Lucky Duran, a citizen of the United States of America in your Telegram social media account with intent to gain advantage for yourself and committed an offence contrary to section 22 (3) a of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act".
They pleaded guilty to their respective charge.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, F. O. Amama, M. T. Iko, C. O. Oni and I. N. Nwosu, prayed the courts to convict and sentence them as charged.
Iwhighuavwe, Emmanuel, Nwosu and Wellie were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each with option of fines.
In the same vein, Ibrahim and Chikodi were convicted and sentenced to one year in prison with option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) as fine payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Judges also ordered that one iPhone 6X mobile device, one iPhone 11 Pro, one black colour Toyota Camry with registered number KUG 640 CA Abuja, one Samsung Galaxy note 9, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Infinix S4, one elitebook Laptop, one iPhone 6S, iPhone XR, one iPhone 7 and one blue itel smart phone recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Convicts are to also depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.
Media & Publicity
28 October, 2022