EFCC secures conviction of Internet fraudster in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Manasseh Hamza Bello (a.k.a Domingos Pereira) before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court.

Bello was prosecuted on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation. The charge reads: “That you, Manasseh Hamza Bello (a.k.a Domingos Pereira), ‘m’, sometime in 2024 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this court, committed an offence, to wit: falsely presenting yourself as Domingos Pereira (a white man) on Facebook (an online social media application), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017.”

Bello pleaded “guilty” to the charge upon which prosecution counsel, M.U. Gadaka, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly. The judge consequently convicted and sentenced him to five years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000. He also forfeited an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a Tecno PoP 8 mobile phone, a golden-coloured Toyota Camry car and about N2.1 million.

Bello was arrested and prosecuted following credible intelligence on the fraudulent activities of a cybercrime syndicate operating within the Barnawa, Kakuri, and Television Garage axis of the Kaduna metropolis.