Abuja Court jails four for internet fraud

Eric Patrick

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abuja Zonal Directorate has secured the conviction and sentence  of four internet fraudsters.

The fraudsters were convicted on Wednesday,  August 21, 2024

The convicts are  Abdulrashid Umar, Ekemini Godwin, Anozie Emmanuel and Freedom John were jailed by Justice M. Adamu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court Maitama on a one count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.

This was contained in a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday.

According to the statement, the convicts pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, prompting  prosecution counsel S.N. Robert  to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Ekemini's count charge read, “That you Ekemini Godwin sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Ryan Williams,  a citizen of United States of America via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $520 from one Hae-Yun who is from Pennsylvania and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and  punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”

Emmanuel’s count read, “That you Anozie Emmanuel sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed the offence of cheating by personation when you pretended to be one Scammerpayback claiming to be a recovery person via Facebook social media account and as a result obtained the sum of $300 from one Ahabeb Ycehpeab who is from Krygystan and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 and  punishable under 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation 2004”

Justice Adamu convicted and sentenced Umar to one year prison term or a N300, 000 fine, Godwin,  Emmanuel  and John were sentenced to two years imprisonment each. While Godwin was fined N800, 000, Emmanuel was fined N300, 000 and John got a N400, 000.

Justice Adamu further ordered that all phones which were used as instruments to carry out their crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.