Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday convicted three cyber criminals bringing to 33 the number of internet fraudsters the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured their convictions within 24 hours in Port Harcourt Zone.
The zone had on Wednesday August 25, 2021 secured 30 convictions before Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They are: Okei Morrison Onome, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide James, Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.
Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David Oluwatobi, Ereoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde Victor Temitope, Nurudeen Abiodun Imole and Adeboye Victor.
The convicted Internet fraudsters were arraigned separately on one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences.
In the charge filed against one of the convicts Adebuje Isaac Oluwadunsin, for instance, he was said to have on August 5th, 2021 at Ondo State within the jurisdiction of the Court fraudulently impersonated the identity of one Michelle Orton a (white woman) and citizens of the United States of America in his Samsung S8 and email address [email protected] and gained advantage for himself and .
The said offence was “contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act”
While three Sureties; Lewis Ogenkhene, Ughoshe Adolphus and Osazuwa Efosa Robertson.who were arraigned for perversion of justice by making false statements.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them. The prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu and Ibrahim Mohammed prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the quartet of Imole, Olagoke Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul, Adekunle Joshua to three years imprisonment with the option of N500, 000 fine each. The duo of Damilola Michael and David Oluwatobi were sentenced to two years imprisonment or N300, 000 fine each.
Others bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 each while the three sureties bagged two years imprisonment with option of N100, 000 fine each.
Justice Mohammed convicted Oladepo Olawale, Victor Benjamin and Adeboyega Muritala Idowu for impersonating foreign nationals in their attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Adeboyega Muritala Idowu was discovered to have falsely presented himself as Bendik Phillip, John Micepl to defraud an American citizen of $19,650USD.
Adeboyega Muritala Idowu, aka Bendik Phillips, (John Micepl ) was said to have between 2019 and 2021 at Alagbaka area of Ondo State within the jurisdiction of the Court did with intent to defraud, send messages which materially represented his identity to Mellisa, an American lady upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of $19, 650 (Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Dollars)
He committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act,”
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charge.
In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Francis Jibro prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly..
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced Idowu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300, 000. The duo of Benjamin and Olawale bagged two years term with the option fine of N200, 000 each. He also sentenced the other fraudsters.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of N6.4 million recovered from the bank account of Adeboyega Muritala Idowu to the Federal government of Nigeria.