The Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, sentenced 12 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
While Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu convicted and sentenced 11 internet fraudsters – Nwaeke Vitalis Ndubisi, Kingsley Goodnews, Inyang Victor, Ekere-Obong Adams, Usang Enang, Ogudu James, Arinze Nelly, David Dede, Ibeawuchi Okwukwechukwu, Prince Samuel Ukpai, and Ekpo Peter – Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie convicted and sentenced Joshua Akpabio.
All the convicts were prosecuted by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on two-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation on social media platforms with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of society, barring Akpabio, Ukpai and Peter who faced one-count charge, respectively.
The charge against Ndubuisi read: “That you, Nwaeke Vitalis Ndubuisi ‘m’ sometime in August 2023, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did fraudulently present yourself as Cytal Barton to unsuspecting victims on the social media platform; Facebook with intent to gain advantage for yourself did take possession of the sum of N150,000 knowing that the money forms part of the proceed of an unlawful act to wit; impersonation thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Launder (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”
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They all pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin and Mahmud Khamis prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Defence counsel Tom Udeme, Francis Ezike, Innocent Eze, and Henry Iyipiyayo, however, prayed the court for leniency on the ground that the defendants were first-time offenders.
After listening to the arguments of both the prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Ojukwu handed Ndubisi, Goodnews, Victor, Adams, Enang, James, Nelly, Dede, and Okwukwechukwu six months jail term on each of their two-count charges which is to run concurrently and six months jail term to Peter and Ukpai on their one-count charge.
Akpabio, however, bagged a one year jail term, with the option to pay a N1 million fine from Justice Oghoghorie.
In addition to their jail terms, Adams restituted the sum of $100, Enang $200, and Dede $450 to their victims.
The EFCC further disclosed that the convicts were arrested at different locations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States for internet offences.
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