Six Internet fraudsters bag jail terms in Calabar
Justice Victoria Nwoye of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has convicted and sentenced Ikechukwu Obiekwe and Ugo Chukwudi to correctional facility for fraud.
They were arraigned in December 2019 by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 10-count charges bordering on conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, stealing and retention of proceeds of crime to the tune of N39.5 million
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Ikechukwu Obiekwe, between 2016 to 2018 in Onitsha within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to permanently deprive the owner of his money, fraudulently converted to your own use, N18.1 million being money belonging to Rainbow Hair International Company Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 342 of CAP 30, Criminal Code Law of Anambra State and punishable under Section 353 (6) of the same Law. ”
Count three reads: “That you, Ugo Chukwudi between 2016 to 2018 in Onitsha within the jurisdiction of this honourable court transferred N5.3 million to account number 0012766443 domiciled in Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, belonging to Emma Ogonna Obiekwe, a nominee of one Ikechukwu Obiekwe, when you know or reasonably ought to know that the said money was stolen by the said Ikechukwu Obiekwe and therefore formed part of the proceed of crime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (A) of the EFCC Act 2004 and punishable under Section 17 (B) of the same Act.”
In the course of the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, presented six witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence.
Justice Nwoye, in her judgment on July 9, held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced both men to one year imprisonment, each, without an option of fine.
In addition, he ordered that N39.5 million being the proceeds of their crime be forfeited by the convicts to their victim. The convicts’ journey to jail began on May 19, 2019, when the victim through a petition to the commission alleged that Obiekwe, who was his apprentice, diverted N39,528,530 million from the company’s sales account, and when confronted he denied and absconded. Upon investigation by the commission, it was discovered that Obiekwe used Chukwudi to divert the said sum to different accounts.
SIMILARLY, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar convicted and sentenced six internet fraudsters to six months imprisonment, each, for criminal impersonation, love scam and identity theft.
The convicts are: Chibo Udoka (aka Zoya Andric, Kelly Rose, Chimata Harry), John Inimfon Okpokpo (Grace Boar), Emediong Ekerete Bassey (aka Thiwe Ploka), Otu Ginikachi Samuel (alias Chris Hemsworth), Goodluck John Bassey (aka Tom Jones) and Asogwa Ifebuche Lukas (alias Daniela Crystal). They were charged to court by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on two-count separate charges, to which they pleaded guilty.
One of the counts reads: ‘That you, Otu Ginikachi Samuel (aka Chris Hemsworth) sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court fraudulently presented yourself as Chris Hemsworth (a United State of American citizen) to Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych (Ukrainian citizen) on Facebook with fraudulent intent, gained advantage of the sum of N1 million for yourself from the said Tymoshenko Anatoly Grihorovych and thereby committed the offence of identity theft contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (0) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention) (amendment) Act 2024 and punishable under 22 (b) (iv) of the same Act.
Another reads: ‘That you Chibo Udoka Mgborogwu (aka Zoya Andric, Kelly Rose Chimata Harry), sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to obtain property and gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently presented yourself as Zoya Andric, Kelly Rose Chimata Harry on social media platform (Whatsapp, Instagram) 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 defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them and based on their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Khamis Mahmud, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, but the defence counsels Udeme Tom, Innocent Ekeize and Henry Effiong, prayed the court for lighter sentences for the defendants, on the ground that they were first time offenders.
After listening to both the prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Ojukwu, convicted and sentenced Emediong Bassey, Otu Samuel, Asogwa Lucas and John Okpokpo to six months imprisonment on each of the two count charges.
The sentences are to run concurrently, while Goodluck Bassey and Chibo Mgborogwu were sentenced to six months jail term, each, on one count. The convicts were all given the option to pay N500,000 each.
Four of the convicts were ordered to restitute the following sums: Emediong Bassey R1500, Otu Samuel N1 million; John Okpokpo $150 and Asogwa Lucas $100.
The six convicts forfeited all gadgets used in committing the crimes to the Federal Government. The convicts were arrested in Uyo between May and June 2024, following verified intelligence regarding their criminal activities on the internet.