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Three persons were on Thursday, September 26, 2019 found guilty of criminal impersonation by the Federal High Court, Ibadan, and sentenced to prison terms.
The trio – Augustine Ekeson, Obinna Ureahi Ifeanyi and Osho Olalekan Micheal – were convicted in cases filed against them by the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Patricia Ajoku, after considering the facts of an amended one-count charge against Obinna and Ifeanyi, pronounced them guilty and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each.
The duo had earlier been arraigned on a three-count charge based on the allegations raised against them in a petitioned received from one Mobolade Dele Akinbuluma, a Doctoral student of the University of Ibadan.
Akinbuluma alleged that the accused hacked into her email account to misrepresent themselves as staff of a Kenyan university where she was to undertake a study as part of her doctorate programme.
She was, in the process, defrauded of N875,490 (Eight hundred and seventy five thousand four hundred and ninety Naira).
The duo pleaded not-guilty to the charge, but later approached the EFCC for a plea bargain.
Following an agreement on the terms of the plea bargain, they were re-arraigned on Thursday on a one-count amended charge.
The latest charge reads: “That you Augustine Ekeson M and Obinna Ureahl Ifeanyi on or about the 3rd of December 2015 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: fraudulently impersonated one Mrs. Lillian Igweta, a secretary to Professor Torto with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(4) of the same Act.”
They pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting a prayer by the EFCC counsel, Ifeanyi Agwu, for their conviction.
The presiding judge accordingly sentenced them to two years imprisonment each.
Meanwhile, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, equally of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, also jailed Osho on Thursday for an internet-related offence.
Osho was found guilty of falsely representing himself to be an American citizen named Jack, using same to defraud one Maria.
He was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to make restitution of $200 (two hundred United States Dollars) to his victim. The jail term takes effect from April 3, 2019, day he was arrested.
He is also to forfeit to the Federal Government of Nigeria items recovered from him in the course of investigation.
Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Office, has arrested 18 (Eighteen) suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos.
The suspects are: Abass Mukhtar, Enitan Adekunle, Olakunle Araoyinbo, Korede Adetule, Christmas Gabriel, Christmas Yole, Christmas Emmanuel and Harrison Obayogbono.
Others are: Victor Kenneth, Adewale Musibau, Oluwajuwon Shofuyi, Idris Abdulazeez, Oyeku Adeoye, Omilana Adeleke, Okeke Chucks, Peters Olamide, Abayomi Jones and Usman Olalekan.
The suspects were arrested during a sting operation in the early hours of Friday, September 27, 2019 at three different locations in the Alagbado area of Lagos State, following intelligence reports received by the Commission from concerned members of the public about their alleged involvement in the criminal activities.
During the raid, about five of the suspects attempted to escape arrest by taking refuge inside the ceiling of their apartments. They were, however, immediately apprehended by operatives of the EFCC.
Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include charms, phones, laptops and five cars-Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry 2004 model, Toyota Camry 2007 model, Toyota Camry 1999 model and Honda Pilot.
The suspects will soon be charged to court.
In a similar development, in furtherance of its ongoing national offensive against perpetrators of cybercrime Operatives of the Cybercrime Section of the Abuja Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday September 24, 2019 raided the residences of suspected internet fraudsters at No 5 Arbe Saibra Dantata Estate Kubwa, Abuja.
The operation was triggered by intelligence regarding the activities of the suspects who were placed under close surveillance for weeks.
The suspects arrested are Aifuwa Aisosa, Desmond Imasuen, Usman Malik, Odiesen Ken, Odiase Emmanuel and Aifuwa Henry.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects include mobile phones, laptop computers, and a Mercedes C350.
In the same vein, the Advanced Fee Fraud section of the Abuja Zonal office on Thursday, September 26, arrested another cybercrime suspect, Mbaeri Anselm Chukwuma at David Estate, Gwarimpa. Items recovered from him include a Toyota Rav4, 2 laptops, 2 phones and a Pump Action Rifle with 2 Cartridges.
The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
Also, the Enugu Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,in its resolve to completely wipe out the menace of internet crimes popularly known as ‘Yahoo-yahoo’ on Thursday, September 26, 2019, raided two residential buildings at Maryland, Enugu where twenty Eight (28) suspected fraudsters were arrested.
The arrests followed some intelligence obtained by the Commission regarding activities of some people living ostentatiously without any known means of livelihood. They were alleged to have specialized in defrauding many unsuspecting victims (within and outside the country) of huge sums of money through their nefarious operations.
In the course of executing search at the residences of the suspects, many of them, including a female suspect, attempted destroying some phones found on them, as the female suspect was caught flushing a broken Iphone down the toilet. The phone was, however, recovered.
Some items which were confiscated during the raid include: four (4) apple macbook, Two (2) Iphone, Xmax and other HP laptop computers. .
Other items include: Two (2) Toyota Camry, four (4) Toyota Corolla and one (1) Mercedez Benz GL450 car.
The suspects who have volunteered statements under words of caution will be charged to court as soon as investigations into the matter are concluded.
The Enugu Zonal Head of the Commission, Usman Imam, said the prevalence of cyber-crime in the zone and involvement of very young Nigerians was not only alarming but has become a national catastrophe.
He said; “We have a problem in our hands and we have to face it squarely. Personally, it is disheartening seeing young men and women being caught, prosecuted and convicted of crimes which could be avoided. But, they also have a role to play by consciously changing their mindset and shunning greed and peer pressure to commit crime.”
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, September 26, 2019, was commended for its dogged efforts in the fight against corruption. The commendation was made by the State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Akwa Ibom state, Tony Iji, during a visit to the Uyo Zonal Office of the EFCC.
Iji, who led a delegation of NHRC, said the purpose of the visit was to advocate for partnership and to commend the anti-graft agency for ridding the state of corruption, economic and financial crimes.
“We came here to advocate for partnership which exists at National level and to commend your office for the good job you are doing in the state by ridding the state of persons involved in economic and financial crimes”, Iji said.
Describing the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, as “an astute and top-notch fighter of corruption”, Iji said the NHRC was proud to associate with the Commission, pledging support for the EFCC especially in the area of training of personnel.
He said, “Ibrahim Magu is known as an astute and top-notch fighter of economic and financial crimes with zero tolerance of corrupt practices. We are very proud to associate with him and the Commission. The EFCC is doing a good job and we thought it wise to come and commend you people and also to extend a hand of fellowship and also to let you know that we are ready to support and partner with you in training your personnel.”
Receiving the delegation, the Uyo Zonal Head of the EFCC, Garba Dugum, urged them to keep supporting the Commission in the fight against corruption, stressing that the sanctity of the country should be protected by everyone as a stakeholder.
“This country is for everybody and we all have a duty to protect the sanctity of this country. Nigeria is ours, we don’t have any other country. All our differences should be put aside so that we can fight this monster called corruption and make the country a better place”, Dugum said.
He further urged the delegation to also spread the anti-corruption message during their sensitization programmes.