Metro
EFCC Secures Conviction of Three for Impersonating Evangelist Ebuka Obi
- The EFCC secured the conviction of three individuals for impersonating Evangelist Ebuka Obi
- The fraudsters were accused of deceived victims into making financial contributions under false pretenses
- The court sentenced the convicts to community service
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Benin Zonal Office has successfully secured the conviction of three individuals who impersonated Evangelist Ebuka Anozie Obi, Spiritual Director of the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The convicts, Odion Victor, Amos Godwin, and Ayomide Michael, were arraigned before the Edo State High Court in Benin for creating fake social media accounts in the name of the prominent Evangelist.
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Using these platforms, they deceived members of the public into making financial contributions under false pretenses, such as funding treatment for alleged sick individuals, sowing seeds for spiritual breakthroughs, or paying for special prayers.
According to court proceedings, the fraudsters directed victims, including members of the Zion Prayer Ministry, to deposit funds into bank accounts under their control.
Presiding over the case, Justice G.O. Madegbelo found the defendants guilty of all charges brought against them. The court sentenced the trio to community service and ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones and the remaining funds in their bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
Justice Madegbelo emphasized that the forfeited items were proceeds and tools of the fraudulent activity. The EFCC welcomed the judgment, reaffirming its commitment to combat cybercrime and protect the public from similar scams.
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This case highlights the growing issue of cyber impersonation and the need for vigilance among the public to avoid falling victim to online scams. It also underscores the importance of reporting suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies for prompt action.
Evangelist Obi, known for his spiritual outreach and charity work, has yet to comment publicly on the case. However, the Zion Prayer Movement Outreach continues its activities, urging followers to verify official channels for communication.
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