Justice O. A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, September 14, 2023 convicted ten people on one count separate charges bordering on internet fraud.
The defendants who were prosecuted by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, are Ikyegh Senenge Bobo, Anum Cyprian Sesugh, Boniface Udoo Aondofa, Utor Stanley Torkuma, Obande Emmanuel, James Ekere, Tony Ochekwu Moda, Ochaje James, Shadrach Ugbu Aondona and Odumu Michael.
The convicts were arrested at different locations in Makurdi for alleged involvement in cybercrime. The investigation revealed that they assumed different identities to lure unsuspecting persons into phony social relationships with a view to defrauding them.
They all pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Justice Egwuatu convicted and sentenced Senenge to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N500, 000.00. He was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 13 Pro, Pontiac Vibe 2009 model car and two plots of land situated alongside Gboko Road, Phase 1, Makurdi to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Cyprian bagged one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N500, 000.00. He also forfeits an iPhone 11 Pro Max to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Aondofa was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.00 and forfeits an iPhone 7 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Stanley was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.00 and forfeits an iPhone to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Also, he is to pay the sum of N97,900 (Ninety Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Naira) in restitution to the victim.
Emmanuel was sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of N100, 000 fine and forfeits an iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Federal Government, while James bagged one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N100, 000.00
Ochekwu and Ochaje were sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of One Million Naira and N500, 000.00 fine respectively. While Ochekwu is to forfeit iPhone 3 and iPhone 8, Ochaje was ordered to forfeit one iPhone 6 and one Hp laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Shadrach and Michael bagged one year imprisonment with option of fine of N300, 000.00 and N200, 000 respectively. Shadrach was ordered to forfeit an iPhone XR to the Federal Government.
