A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has convicted and sentenced three internet fraudsters to different jail terms for criminal impersonation, internet fraud and possession of fraudulent documents.
The convicts Abraham Sunday, Ezea Charles and Udoh Gabriel.
They were jailed upon their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one-count separate charge bordering on cybercrimes.
The one-count charge reads: “That you Abraham Sunday ‘ M’ sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this court did fraudulently impersonate Brian O’ Noel on Facebook with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(I) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section”.
They pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, Enobong Ubokudom and Farida Bukar, prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
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Delivering judgment, Justice Chigozie Onah convicted and sentenced Sunday and Charles to six months imprisonment each with an option of fine of N200,000, while Gabriel bagged five months jail term with an option of fine of N150,000.
The court also ordered that the three smartphones used by the convicts to perpetrate the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The convicts were arrested by operatives of the EFCC on November 22, 2023, at different locations in Afaha Atai, in Iko Eket Akwa Ibom State.
Investigation by EFCC, showed that all the convicts impersonated foreigners by using their identities to defraud their victims.
While Charles fraudulently portrayed himself as ‘Molina Urovsky’ on Facebook, Sunday portrayed himself as Brian O’niel and Gabriel presented himself as Alexander Douglas on Instagram.
