July 14, (THEWILL) – Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has convicted and sentenced six internet fraudsters to six months imprisonment each for criminal impersonation, love scam and identity theft. Also in Onitsha, Justice Victoria Nwoye of the Anambra State High Court, sitting in Onitsha has convicted and sentenced the duo of Ikechukwu Obiekwe and Ugo Chukwudi to prison for fraud.
The convicts in Calabar are: Chibo Udoka (aka Zxoya 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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on two-count separate charges, to which they pleaded guilty. The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them and based on their pleas, prosecution 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 a fine of N500,000 each. Four of the convicts were ordered to restitute the following sums: Emediong Bassey, R1500; Otu Samuel, N1, 000, 000.00; John Okpokpo, $150 US and Asogwa Lucas $100 US.. 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. In Onitsha, the suspects were prosecuted 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, 528, 530.
In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu presented six witnesses and tendered several documents as evidence. Justice Nwoye in her judgment 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 the sum of N39, 528, 530, 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 the sum of N39, 528, 530 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. The convicts were arraigned in December 2019.
