The Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of eight internet fraudsters before Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court, Calabar, Cross River State.

The convicts are: Abasiofon Daniel Essien (a.k.a Jason Momoa), Gideon Junior, Edikan Ubong, Harrison Chiemelie, Ndifereke Umoh, Christopher Promise, Effiong Wisdom and Godswill Nsikan.

They were prosecuted on two-count separate charges that bordered on criminal impersonation, identity theft, and obtaining by false pretence.

One of the charges against Essien read: “That you, Abasiofon Daniel Essien (aka Jason Momoa) sometime in 2023, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this court did take possession of $300 intentionally, knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: identity theft 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.”

They all pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, tendered their confessional statements and incriminating contents of their mobile phones to the court as evidence and urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The judge convicted and sentenced them to two years jail each. Umoh, Promise, Chiemelie and Nsikan were given an option to pay a fine of N2 million each. Junior, Essien and Ubong were given a N1.5 million option of fine, while Wisdom was given a N1,000,000 option of fine.