Police Officer Apprehended for Car Theft
Eko Hot Blog reports that Twelve alleged internet fraudsters have been sentenced to various prison terms in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
The suspect received the sentence after pleading guilty to charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, said the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC arraigned the suspects before Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court.
The suspects faced charges related to criminal impersonation on social media with the intent to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
While most of the suspects were arraigned on two-count charges, Akpabio, Ukpai, and Peter faced single-count charges.
Photos of Convicted Fraudsters
Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced eleven of the suspects: 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 Oghoghorie convicted and sentenced Joshua Akpabio.
The convicts were apprehended at various locations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States for internet-related crimes.
The charge against Ndubisi read: “That you, Nwaeke Vitalis Ndubisi, 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 the intent to gain advantage for yourself, thereby taking possession of the sum of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit; impersonation, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”
All defendants pleaded guilty to their charges. Prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin and Mahmud Khamis requested the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly, while defense counsels Tom Udeme, Francis Ezike, Innocent Eze, and Henry Iyipiyayo sought leniency, noting that the defendants were first-time offenders.
After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Ojukwu sentenced Ndubisi, Goodnews, Victor, Adams, Enang, James, Nelly, Dede, and Okwukwechukwu to six months imprisonment on each of their two-count charges, to run concurrently. Peter and Ukpai were each given six months imprisonment on their one-count charges.
Justice Oghoghorie sentenced Akpabio to one year in prison, with an option to pay a N1 million fine.
In addition to their prison terms, Adams was ordered to restitute $100, Enang $200, and Dede $450 to their victims.
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