Five jailed for internet fraud in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abuja Zonal Directorate, on August 12, 2024, secured the conviction and sentencing of five internet fraudsters.

They were jailed by Justice C.O. Agashieze of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on separate one-count bordering on obtaining by false pretense.

The convicts are Desmond Ikpefua, Oyeniji Efosa Temitope, Exiobor Raphael, Emmanuel Gabriel and Samuel Owoicho.

The charge against Gabriel read, “That you, Emmanuel Gabriel, sometime in 2024 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, cheated by personation when you represented yourself as Melsse Moore, a female celebrity, and under that assumed character, obtained the sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200) from Mark Williams under the pretense that you are in a romantic relationship with her, a fact that you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Law (Laws of the Federation, Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Law.”

Ikpefua’s charge read, “That you, Desmond Ikpefua, sometime in 2024 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to commit the offence of cheating by personation when you created a fake Skype App and Gmail profile and pretended to be one Nurhaiza Johnston, an Executive Director at Volvo Group, which you were not, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”

They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Prosecution Counsel M.U. Shariff prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Agashieze convicted and sentenced Ikpefua and Temitope to six and four months imprisonment, respectively, with no option of fine.

Raphael was given a non-custodial sentence to clean the police station in his Orozo axis for two hours every day for six months. He was also fined ₦50,000. Gabriel and Owoicho were fined ₦50,000 while the latter will additionally sweep Maitama Police station for 30 days.

Justice Agashieze further ruled that all instruments used to perpetrate the crimes should be forfeited to the Federal Government.

All the convicts were sentenced after being arrested for internet fraud by operatives of the EFCC. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.