The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ipaka to two years in prison for impersonating Nigerian singer Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour N’abania, and defrauding a U.S. citizen, Yvelte M. Thompson, of $53,000.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the sentence on Tuesday after Ipaka pleaded guilty to two charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court also offered Ipaka the option of a ₦2 million fine and ordered the forfeiture of ₦7.9 million to the victim.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the EFCC’s prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, presented evidence through investigator Azibagiri Ekpar, who detailed how Ipaka carried out the fraud by impersonating Flavour and falsely claiming he would organize shows in the United States, receiving payments through Bitcoin wallets.
The scam was uncovered after the EFCC received a petition from Eyitayo Abiodun and others on behalf of Thompson. Flavour was invited for questioning and denied any involvement, leading investigators to Benin City, where Ipaka was identified as the perpetrator.
He added, “Ipaka admitted in his statement that he impersonated Flavour and scammed Mrs Thompson of $53,000 in 2021.
“Ipaka said he converted the funds into naira and deposited them into his Access Bank account.
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“The sum of N7.9m was recovered from Ipaka’s accounts through the manager’s cheques from Zenith and Access banks.”
Justice Dipeolu, after reviewing the evidence, sentenced Ipaka to two years imprisonment with the option of a fine.
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