The Federal High Courts sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, and Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The convicts, Mmabuchi Anthony Chinaemerem, John Bassey Akpan, Eneji Matthew Ngaji, Louis Samuel Akanimoh, and Uchenna Ibekwe, were jailed on Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively, for fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

While Chinaemerem, Akpan, and Ngaji were convicted by Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar,  Akanimoh and Ibekwe were jailed by Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo.

The internet fraudsters were all convicted after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge, when arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge against Ngaji read: “That you, Eneji Matthew Ngaji ( a.k.a Kayden Malachovski, Glen Benham) sometime in 2022 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as Kayden Malachovski, Glen Benham on Telegram and obtained the sum of Ninety Dollars ($90) from Nellie Yambo, Lorie Rodriguez respectively and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) & (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention E.T.C) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act”.

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The charge against Akanimoh read: “That you, Louis Samuel Akanimoh “M” sometime in 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did fraudulently impersonate Daniel Dailey and Fernando Luis on WhatsApp with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (3) of the same section”.

Following their guilty pleas, the EFCC counsel, S. I. Yaryasa, prayed the court to convict and sentence them as charged.

However, defence counsels, Cyprian Afahanam and M. I. Osimen, prayed the court for leniency in sentencing the defendants.

Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced Chinaemerem and Akpan to six months imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N500,000 each, while Ngaji was also sentenced to five months imprisonment with an option of fine of N500,000.

He was ordered to restitute the sum of $90 to his victim through the EFCC.

The three convicts forfeited all instruments used in committing their crimes to the Federal Government, while they were also ordered to sign an undertaking to be of good behaviours henceforth.

Justice Okeke convicted and sentenced Akanimoh and Ibekwe to two months and two years jail terms respectively, without an option of fine.

Ibekwe was ordered to restitute the sum of N1.2million to his victims through the EFCC, while Akanimoh was ordered to restitute $460 to his victims.

They also forfeited their phones to the Federal Government.

The Star