An internet fraudster, Life Samuel Attai has been convicted and sentenced to one year in prison by Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for impersonation contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

He was jailed after pleading “guilty” to a one count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Command, on Wednesday February 15, 2023.

The Charge reads: "That you, Life Samuel Attai sometime in March, 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Shar, a white man via your WhatsApp 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) of the same Act".

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, M. Abubakar prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.

Counsel to the defendant, F. A. Biya urged the court to temper justice with mercy stressing that he is a first-time offender with no previous criminal record.

Justice Ajoku convicted and sentenced Attai to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation.

In addition, the Court ordered that one black Tecno Pop 3 and one Tecno mobile phone recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The convict was arrested at Eneka, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on July 28, 2022, for suspected internet fraud activities.

Investigation revealed that he operated three social media accounts which he used in defrauding his victims through romance scam.

Media & Publicity

16/02/2023