A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has handed down jail sentences to seven individuals convicted of various internet fraud offences.
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully prosecuted the seven men before Justice R.M. Aikawa.
The convicts, identified as Paul Emmanuel Tumba (alias Cynthia Ebuka), Gabriel Fidelis (alias Diana Siako), Rotji Makwin Gonchor (alias Sofia Marcelor), Danboyi John (alias Ana Martins), Agbaje Abbas Olalekan (alias Dave Smith Vegas), Solomon Ameh (alias Scott Phillips), and Wisdom Mundi Luka (alias Loredana Calinescu), faced separate one-count charges.
These charges ranged from impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents to obtaining by false pretence and the retention of proceeds of criminal activity.
The specific charges detailed how the individuals used deceptive online personas to defraud unsuspecting victims. In the case of Solomon Ameh, he was found to have falsely presented himself as an investment broker from Miami, USA, via Gmail, through which he fraudulently obtained $300.
Similarly, Gabriel Fidelis impersonated a female resident in Italy on Telegram and Facebook, defrauding Rain Shemesh and others of a total sum of N970,000.
Upon hearing their respective charges, all seven defendants pleaded guilty. The prosecution counsel, Y.J. Matiyak and M.U. Gadaka, urged the court to deliver appropriate sentences.
In mitigation, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing that the defendants had shown remorse for their actions.
Justice R.M. Aikawa, in his judgement, delivered varying sentences and forfeiture orders. Paul Emmanuel Tumba was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a N500,000 fine, and he forfeited N300,000 and his Infinix Smart 7 phone. Gabriel Fidelis received a five-year jail term or a ₦500,000 fine, and he forfeited ₦970,000 and an Infinix Hot 5oi phone.
Rotji Makwin Gonchor was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a N500,000 fine, with the forfeiture of his Samsung Galaxy S9 phone. Danboyi John received a two-year jail term or an N500,000 fine, and he forfeited $450, an ash-coloured Honda Accord car, an iPhone 15, and an HP laptop.
Mr. Agbaje Abbas Olalekan was sentenced to five years imprisonment or a ₦600,000 fine, forfeiting his iPhone 14 Pro Max. Solomon Ameh was handed a five-year jail term or a ₦500,000 fine, with the forfeiture of his iPhone 16 Plus, an iPad, and $300.
Lastly, Wisdom Mundi Luka was sentenced to five years imprisonment or a ₦600,000 fine, and he forfeited an iPhone 13 Pro and €220.
The EFCC confirmed that the convicts were apprehended in Jos, Plateau State, and Niger State following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent activities conducted online
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