Court Jails 4 Internet Fraudsters in Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of four internet fraudsters.
The convicts: Abdulrashid Umar, Ekemini Godwin, Anozie Emmanuel and Freedom John were jailed by Justice M. Adamu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court Maitama on a one- count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
Godwin’s count reads, “That you Ekemini Godwin sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Ryan Williams, a citizen of United States of America via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $520 (Five Hundred and Twenty United States Dollars) from one Hae-Yun who is from Pennsylvania and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”
Emmanuel’s count reads, “That you Anozie Emmanuel sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Scammerpayback claiming to be a recovery person via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $300 (Three Hundred United States Dollars) from one Ahabeb Ycehpeab who is from Krygystan and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”
They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting prosecution counsel S.N. Robert to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Adamu convicted and sentenced Umar to one year prison term or a N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, Godwin, Emmanuel and John were sentenced to two years imprisonment each. While Godwin was fined N800, 000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira), Emmanuel was fined N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) and John got a N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.
Justice Adamu further ordered that all phones which were used as instruments to carry out their crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were later subsequently charged to court and convicted.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday August 20, 2024 arrested 22 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City. The suspects were arrested based on actionable intelligence regarding their suspected involvement in internet- related fraud.
Items recovered from them include 10 exotic cars, laptops and phones.
In Abuja, the federal capital, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, also arrested one Hyginus Nkwocha for alleged internet fraud and money laundering.
Nkwocha, 35, was arrested at Ever Green Estate, behind Millennium Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, following intelligence about his suspected involvement in internet fraud and money laundering. Items recovered from him include : a sum of $2,200 (Two Thousand Two Hundred Dollars), an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a MacBook, a gold chain and pendant, a gold bracelet, a gold neck chain, Mercedes Benz ML 350, a Chevrolet Camaro, and a Mustang car.
Others include: some properties at Cookies Court 2, located in Ocean Palm Estate, Ajah, Lagos, Unit C8, Lugbe Airport Road, Abuja and Cookies Court 2, 2nd Avenue, Ocean Palm Estate, Ogombo, Lagos State.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC head of media and publicity noted that all the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
In order to inculcate good morals in students, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has called on youths across the country to take the anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots level.
He made the call on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC Training Facility, Abuja, while delivering a Goodwill Message at a debate program codenamed “Head to Head,” which aims to inculcate good morals in secondary school students.
The Chairman, represented by the Head of Enlightenment and Reorientation Unit of the Commission, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Aisha Mohammed, says the voice of every Nigerian youth matters and the EFCC will count on them to take the anti-corruption message to the grassroots level. “You are the future of this country. We want you to know that your voices matter in this fight, and we want you to know that from today onward, you have to take the fight against corruption dear to your heart”.
“We want you to be people of integrity, do the right thing always and always stand for the right thing even when nobody is watching you, because Nigeria is the only country we have and we all must join hands together to make it great,” she said.
Earlier in his presentation on the topic “Cybercrime and its Menace,” Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, ASE I Olalekan Ogunjobi cautioned youths to steer clear of all forms of cybercrime no matter how tough the pressure may be from peer groups, parents, and guardians. According to him, there are many ways one can make a living legitimately via cyberspace and make lots of money without indulging in fraud.
On his part, the Executive Chairman/Board Secretary of UBEC, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Chapter, Dr Alhassan Sule said UBEC under his watch will ensure that every child in the FCT goes to school, as most of the nation’s challenges can be solved in the classrooms. “We are using you as advocates of change, talk to your friends who are not going to school to come to school, and if they refuse, tell your teachers, and from there we will know what to do.
“Polish your minds and become responsible citizens and that is why we reach out to various agencies, including the EFCC to come and talk to you on the need to be good and responsible citizens who will bring change to our nation.”
Since the anti- graft agency, the EFCC is taking the fight against financial crime to every parts of the country, fraudsters across the country must beware or be prepared to go to jail when caught and convicted.
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