Blessing Iruoma, Port Harcourt
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced two persons to two years imprisonment each for internet- related fraud.
The convicts are Okoro Uchechukwu and Emeka Paul Ezenwadi.
The matter was presided by Justices S. I. Mark and P. M. Ayuba.
The convicts were jailed after pleading “guilty” yesterday, to one-count separate charge bordering on impersonation, after being arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The count reads: “That you Okoro Uchechukwu, sometimes in August, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Emma Nina Pereira, a female student of the United States of America Army School via your Google account with email address: yudithnia87@gmail.com with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act”.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsels, I. Agu and C. O. Oni prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
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On their parts, the defense counsels, F. A. Bigha and B. J. Geoffrey prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the defendants, stressing that, “they are first -time offenders, with no previous criminal records”.
In his ruling, Justice Ayuba convicted and sentenced Ezenwadi to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100, 000.00) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation.
Also, Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Uchechukwu to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300, 000.00), payable into the same Federal Government’s account.
The judges ordered that the proceeds of crime; a black Dell Laptop, one iPhone x, and three Apple wrist watches, be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The items are to be sold via public auction by the EFCC’s Secretary, and the proceeds paid into the EFCC Recovery Account domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria. The convicts should also depose to affidavits of good behaviour before the court.
Ezenwadi and Uchechukwu’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of the EFCC at Aba Owerri Road, Aba, Abia state , for internet- related offences.
It was gathered that further investigations showed that they were involved in fraudulent cyber dealings.
