Twelve individuals have been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court in Kano for their involvement in various internet-related frauds and financial crimes.
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Justice S.M. Shuaibu delivered the judgment following the arraignment of the suspects by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The convicts were charged separately on a one-count charge each, covering offences such as cybercrime, impersonation, money laundering, and unlawful retention of criminal proceeds.
The convicted persons include Michael Yakubu, Udo Promise Jonah, Promise Isah Ibrahim, Samuel Odeh, Abdulsamad Muhammad, Agboeze Chibueke Ernest, Ochuba Chigozie, Abu David Eleojo, David Aaron, Chidi Destiny Chidiebere, Collins Noel, and Ola Ajibola.
According to the EFCC, Michael Yakubu, under the alias “Beksolk_official,” impersonated a U.S. citizen on Instagram to defraud unsuspecting victims of $300. Similarly, Ochuba Chigozie was found guilty of knowingly retaining $200, which was identified as proceeds of an unlawful act.
All twelve defendants pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Following their plea, prosecution lawyers M. Lawal and M.U. Gadaka urged the court to convict and sentence them, while the defence appealed for leniency, citing the remorse of their clients.
Justice Shuaibu handed varying sentences based on the severity of each offence. Chigozie and Eleojo were sentenced to five years imprisonment each, with an option of N500,000 fine. Their forfeitures to the federal government include mobile devices and amounts traced to their offences.
Others sentenced to five years imprisonment or N400,000 in fines include Aaron, Yakubu, Jonah, and Odeh, who also forfeited mobile phones and cash sums in U.S. dollars.
Chidiebere received a four-year sentence with an N400,000 fine option, while Noel, Ajibola, and Ernest were each sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000. Ibrahim and Muhammad received three years each or a N300,000 fine.
In total, the convicts forfeited items such as iPhones, laptops, tablets, and various sums of money, all to the federal government.
The EFCC noted that the convicts were apprehended in Nasarawa and Niger States following credible intelligence reports linking them to fraudulent online activities.
