The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu Zonal Command, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, secured the conviction of five internet fraudsters before Justice F. Riman of the Federal High Court, Akwa, Anambra State. The convicts, Henry Chukwu, Samuel Chizitere, Harrison Chukwuka Agu, Chukwunonso Paul Nwoso, and Abah Nnamdi Emmanuel, were prosecuted on separate counts of impersonation.
The charge against Chukwu reads, “That you, Henry Chukwu, sometime in 2023, in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated Jerry Isaac, a foreign national from the United States of America, by means of your phone via a fake Facebook account, with intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act. 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) of the same Act”.
The charge against Nwoso reads, “that you, Chukwunonso Paul Nwoso, sometime in May, 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, impersonated by presenting yourself as Fredrich Martin, a citizen of the United States of America, on your email account using your iPhone 11 Pro Max with intent to obtain money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 22(4) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, etc.) Act. 2015”.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them. Consequently, the court convicted and sentenced them to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 each.
They are also to forfeit their mobile phones to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
