The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Uyo Zonal Office, on Tuesday July 6, 2021 secured the conviction of four internet fraudsters before Justice I. L. Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River state. They pleaded guilty to separate charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation with intent to defraud.
The convicts are Okonkwo Chukwudi Charles (a.k.a. Teer Winford) a fashion model/event planner; Godbless Olulu, a web designer; Princewill Sunny Onyinye Otalor (a.k.a. Frank) a musician; and Goodluck Alabo Yebiboh ( a.k.a Allexandro Matteo, Pamela Chandler, Jeff Robin) a student. They were arrested at different locations within Calabar, Cross River state, by operatives of the Commission, following intelligence of their criminal activities.
In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel N. K. Ukoha informed the court of a plea bargain agreement entered by all the parties and prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. But the defence counsel, A. Cyprian, I. G. Akiki and Innocent O. Eze prayed the court for leniency. According to them, the defendants were first time offenders and had shown remorse.
But after listening to the arguments canvassed by both the prosecution and the defence, Justice Ojukwu convicted all four defendants and sentenced them as follows:
Okonkwo Chukwudi Charles was sentenced to three months imprisonment with the option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira. He is to forfeit the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Godbless Olulu was sentenced to three months imprisonment with the option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000) fine. He is to forfeit an iPhone x, iPhone 6 iPad, iPhone xc and Tecno phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The items shall be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds paid into the Federal Government account. In addition, the convict shall forfeit the sum of Four Thousand US Dollars ($4,000) being proceeds of a fake website to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Princewill Sunny Onyinye Otalor was sentenced to six months imprisonment with the option fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00), and forfeits to the Federal Government of Nigeria, an iphone2 pro max mobile phone and Apple tab which were instrument of the crime.
Goodluck Alabo Yebiboh was sentenced to three months imprisonment with option of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000) fine. The convict was ordered to forfeit to the Federal Government, his Infinix Hot 8 mobile phone and the sum of Five Million Twenty Seven Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Two Naira Four kobo (N5, 270, 752, 04) found in his First bank account, being proceed of crime.
All the convicts are to undertake to be of good behaviour.
