The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of 31 internet fraudsters.
The internet fraudsters were convicted by Justices Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, sitting in Enugu and Nnamdi Dimgba of a Federal High Court, sitting in Awka, Anambra State.
The convicts are: Pascal Chinedu, Chiemerie Edeh, Okeke Harrison, Chidera Mmadu, Chizoba Felix, Ekperechi David, Sunday Cross, Enenta Michael, Nwankwo Firminus, Chukwuebuka Ozoemena, Vincent Eduvie, Chisom Augustine, Ifeanyi Samuel, Abunoko Kelly, Ikechukwu Joshua, Agada Olema, Eguiri Franklyn and Akpoze Julius.
Others are, Evans Odibo, Martins Ugwueke, Eli Ogbonna, Samuel Ogbonnia, Amarachi Nwalue, Abraham Chimeremeze, Godbless Akpoze, Mmoyekwe Okwudili, Emmanuel Nwanga, Eduje Precious, Umoke Reuben, Godwin Happy and Nnabuike Odoh.
Chinedu, Edeh, Harrison, Mmadu, Felix, David, Cross, Michael, Firminus and Ozoemena were arraigned on February 21, 2024 by Justice Umar, while the remaining 21 convicts were arraigned on February 22, 2024, by Justice Dimgba.
The 31 faced one-count separate charges of fraudulent impersonation, obtaining by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents, to which they all pleaded “guilty.”
Following their “guilty” pleas, Nuradeen Ingawa and Michael Ani, counsel to the EFCC, reviewed the facts of the cases and prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while C. Nwatadi, Bernard Okeke, U. AKposi, Arinze Anyigo , C. Nwobodo, E. Chinyeze and Collins Akpusi, who were defence counsel, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients were first-time offenders.
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Justice Umar convicted and sentenced Michael, Ozoemena, Cross, Chiedu and Firminus to 12 months imprisonment each, with a fine option of N500,000.
He handed 24 months imprisonment with a fine option of N750,000 to Felix, sentenced Harrison and Mmadu to 18 months imprisonment each, with a fine option of N500,000, respectively.
The court also sentenced Edeh to 10 months imprisonment with a fine option of N300,000, while David bagged six months imprisonment with a fine option of N200,000.
In addition to his sentence, Justice Umar ordered Felix to make a restitution of the sum of $1,300 to his victim through the Federal Government.
Justice Dimgba convicted and sentenced Odoh and Olema to one year imprisonment each, with a fine option of N150,000, respectively, while the rest 19 were sentenced to two weeks community service.
All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones recovered from them to the Federal Government.
They bagged their imprisonment after they were arrested at various locations by operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC for their involvement in internet-related offences.
They were charged to court and convicted.
