In a significant move against cybercrime, Justice Rosemary Dugbo Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, delivered verdicts on Thursday, September 28, 2023, sentencing four internet fraudsters to one year in prison each.
PThese convictions came with no option of a fine.
The four individuals, all males aged between 20 and 28, were identified as Abdullahi Saidu Momoh, Godwin Boman Emmanuel, Samuel Godfrey Orudu, and Anunobi Kyrian. Their charges revolved around criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretenses.
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One of the charges read: “That you, Abdullahi Saidu Momoh ‘M,’ sometime in 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did fraudulently present yourself variously as Andrew Smith, Theo Hutchraft, Jjchang Wook on the Social media platforms; Instagram/Facebook to Sondry Rissell, Peggy Grabner with intent to gain an advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offense to wit: Identity theft and impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
Following their pleas of “guilty,” the EFCC’s Counsel, Khamis Mahmud, requested the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. In contrast, the defense counsels, Innocent Eze, Francis Ezike, and Cyprian Afahanam, pleaded for leniency on behalf of the defendants.
Justice Oghoghorie ultimately sentenced all four defendants to one year in prison each, with no option of a fine. Orudu and Kyrian’s sentences are to run concurrently. Additionally, the court ordered Kyrian to restitute the sum of $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars), and Orudu was mandated to pay the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira only) to the Federation Account. The court also ruled that items recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts’ legal troubles began on August 29, 2023, when they were apprehended by EFCC operatives from the Uyo Zonal Command. The arrest took place at Akwa Ima Estate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on charges related to internet-related offenses.
In a separate legal action, the Uyo Command arraigned Joseph Akadu Asukwo and Emmanuel Ekenedilichukwu Armstrong before Justice Maureen Adaobi Onyetenu of the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Asukwo faced a three-count charge related to criminal conversion and theft amounting to N12,993,600.00 (Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Six Hundred Naira). Armstrong faced a four-count charge, which included fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and criminal diversion of $108,762.5 (One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Two United States Dollars and Five Cents).
Both defendants entered “not guilty” pleas when the charges were read to them individually. Consequently, the EFCC’s Counsel, Farida Bukar, requested a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded at the Uyo Correctional Centre.
However, defense counsel Michael Ishadu attempted an oral bail application, which did not succeed.
Justice Onyetenu ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Uyo Correctional Centre and scheduled the matter for a hearing on bail applications on October 26, 2023.
Asukwo was arrested for criminally diverting funds from Aimhye Integrated Concept Limited, totaling N12,993,600.00, while Armstrong was apprehended on June 22, 2023, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for suspected online criminal activities.
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