The Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced Oguzie Chima Joseph, also known as Sergeant Flores Nguyen, to two years in prison for internet fraud.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Joseph was convicted by Justice Sergius Onah on two counts of cybercrime.
One of the charges against him read, “That you, Oguzie Chima Joseph (a.k.a Sergeant Flores Nguyen), sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as Sergeant Flores Uguyeni, an officer of the United States Army on social media platform (Facebook) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)(0) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) (Amendment) Act 2024 and punishable under Section 22(b) (iv) of the same Act.”
The second charge stated, “That you, Oguzie Chima Joseph (a.k.a Sergeant Flores Nguyen), sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly take possession of the sum of One Hundred United States Dollars ($100), which money you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: cybercrime 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.”
Joseph pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him on March 10, 2025. Following his plea, EFCC prosecutor Khamis Mahmud presented evidence against him through Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, Musa Yahaya. The evidence included Joseph’s written statement, an iPhone XR, and printouts of fraudulent documents found on his phone.
Delivering judgment on March 24, 2025, Justice Onah ruled, “The prosecution has been able to present his facts before this Honourable Court, and with the guilty pleas by the defendant, I therefore find you, Oguzie Chima Joseph, guilty as charged.”
The judge sentenced Joseph to one year in prison on each count, to run concurrently. He was also given the option of a ₦200,000 fine and ordered to refund the $100 he obtained from his fraudulent activities. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone XR to the government.
Joseph was arrested on December 6, 2024, by EFCC investigators in Uyo after intelligence reports linked him to internet fraud.
