The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Uyo Zonal Command has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of eight internet fraudsters in Cross River State, News About Nigeria reports.
This development was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.
Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court, Calabar, presided over the cases and delivered the verdicts.
The fraudsters were prosecuted on two counts of criminal impersonation, identity theft, and obtaining money by false pretence.
The convicted individuals are Abasiofon Daniel Essien (also known as Jason Momoa), Gideon Junior, Edikan Ubong, Harrison Chiemelie, Ndifereke Umoh, Christopher Promise, Effiong Wisdom, and Godswill Nsikan.
One of the charges against Essien stated, “That you, Abasiofon Daniel Essien (aka Jason Momoa), sometime in 2023, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession of $300 (three hundred US dollars) intentionally, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: identity theft and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Similarly, a charge against Wisdom read, “That you, Effiong Wisdom ‘M’ (aka Pamela Randy), sometime in November 2023, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently presented yourself as Pamela Randy to Michael Moore on the social media platform: Facebook/Instagram with intent to gain an advantage for yourself, did take possession of the sum of $170 (one hundred and seventy United States dollars), 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 the accused pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
“They all pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them following which prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, tendered their confessional statements and incriminating contents of their mobile phones to the court as evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly,” Oyewale said.
Justice Oghoghorie sentenced each of the convicts to two years in prison.
However, Umoh, Promise, Chiemelie, and Nsikan were given the option to pay a fine of N2 million each.
Junior, Essien, and Ubong were given an N1.5 million option for a fine, while Wisdom was given an N1 million option for a fine.
In addition to the fines, Essien, Junior, Ubong, and Chiemelie are required to restitute $100, $300, $170, and N140,000, respectively to their victims.
Umoh, Promise, Wisdom, and Nsikan will restitute $70, $140, N100,000, and $50, respectively, to their victims.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ mobile phones, which were used as tools in committing the crimes, to the government.
