The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in two days, Tuesday July 19, 2022 and Thursday July 22, 2022, secured thirty seven (37) internet fraud convictions. The convictions were recorded by the Enugu Zonal Command before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu.
The convicts are: Uchechukwu Ani, Nnamdi Ugwu, Ikechukwu Emmanuel Ebube, Chijioke Christian, Obaji Charles Imoke, Nwafor Victor Somkenechukwu,Chibuzor Okeke, Samuel Great, Ukandu Benedict, Augustine Akpos Austin, Chinwendu Okoh, Nnamdi Moses Tochukwu, Eze Onyebuchi Hillary, Emmanuel Alex Akwakolam, Chiemerie Samuel , Nwaojeh Emeka, Somtochi Collins Eze and Dike Emmanuel Chidiebere.
Others are: Chukwudi Okeke, Enete Ontekachi Gideon, Obeta Ifeanyi, Utoatuonu Osita, Ejiofor Okwuchukwu, Somtochuchukwu Promise Ezeanyagu, Ifeanyi Joseph Ikeh, Azuka Michael, Nnaemeka Ejebu, Edafe menford Odio, Emmanuel Chika Eneanya, Markanthony Emeka Akabuike, Chinemerem David Egwuatu, Arinze Maduka Samuel, Okeke Oluebube, Christian Ifesinachi Okoye, Awanya Jidechukwu, Ugwuagbo Stephen Nnaemeka and Obi Chinedu Edison.
They were prosecuted on separate one count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences
The charge against one of the convicts, Chibuzor Okeke, reads, “That you, CHIBUZOR OKEKE sometime in July 2022 in Ifite Isu, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court impersonated by presenting yourself as Dolores, a Brazilian woman who is a specialist in crypto currency investment to one Zafar, a Turkish National on Telegram using your Redmi10s Phone and by so doing did obtain the sum of ($1,500) One Thousand Five Hundred American Dollars by false pretences and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition ,Prevention) Act, 2015”.
All the convicts pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
Justice Buba convicted and sentenced them to one year imprisonment with an option of One Million Naira Fine each. The court ordered that their mobile phones be sold and the proceeds remitted to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.