39 Internet fraudsters jailed in Ebonyi, phones to be auctioned

October 05, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

A Federal High Court has convicted and sentenced 39 internet fraudsters to various jail terms for offenses related to obtaining by false presence, personation, and possession of fraudulent documents.

The convicts, arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges.

Justice H. I. O. Oshomah and M. T. Segun-Bello presided over the cases.

The convicts are; Udeh Chimuanya John, Nnadi Raphael Ogomegbunam, Ani Mmesoma Emmanuel, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, Onoja Chukwuemeka Miracle, Frank Egesionu, Nze Uchenna Divine,ss Ikegwu Matthew Chukwuma, Ugwu Henry Izuchukwu, Chidiobi Kelechi Sylvester, Erozona Emmanuel Omeya, Aruma Chidiebere Emmanuel, Amaechi Shiloh Chukwuelotam, Ajibo Sunday Chiweokwu, Amadi Mbakaogu, Emeka Ogwa, Miracle Ezema Ebube, Nwobodo Joel Obinna, Eze Emmanuel, Raymond Ugochukwu Emmanuel and Amah Matthew Olumachi.

Others include; Oparaukwu Udoka Justice, Philip Nnabuike Ozoani, Chukwueze Emmanuel Onuh, David Emeka, Henry Chinenyerem Ogbodo, Ebube Testimony Omeje, Emmanuel Stanley Odoh, Terzungwe Isaac Utor, Tersoo Stanley Ukume, Ugwu Christian Tochukwu, Omeje Favour Chimdalu, Henry Abara Ekom, Ajibo Kingsley Ebube, Nuka Christian Lucky, Obioha Chidiebube Gratus, Eze Marcel Uchenna, Enwu Stephen Chimdindu and Chinedu Nelson.

The charge against Ezema reads: “That you, Benjamin Obinna Ezema, sometime in September, 2024 in Nsukka, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Patricia Lambert, a foreign national, through a fake Telegram account via your IPhone 14 Pro mobile phone, with intent to gain advantage for yourself from your unsuspecting victims and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.

The Charge against Chidera reads: “That you, Ezeh Emmanuel Chidera, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identity of Wei Yiming, a male foreigner and citizen of United Arab Emirates who works as a Chief Medical Officer, via your Tecno Spark 7, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and in order to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.

However, the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones, which will be auctioned.

The EFCC has secured several convictions in recent months, targeting internet fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria.