THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday says its Enugu Zonal Office has secured five separate convictions involving the prosecution of Orji Uchenna, Chime Isaiah, Ogbu Obinna, Dunu Franklyn Tochukwu and Victor Patrick.
Justice N.I Buba, the presiding Judge of the Federal High Court, Enugu, Enugu State capital sentenced the fraudsters on five separate one-count charges, all bordered on internet fraud.
They were found guilty and sentenced to one-month imprisonment respectively. The court equally ordered that the iPhones and laptops recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the anti-graft agency, the convicts were in the habit of using fraudulent names and emails to defraud unsuspecting citizens of foreign countries.
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Further investigations by the EFCC revealed that Orji represents himself on the internet, as George Terry Williams, a British widower. He was reported to have knowingly sent his identity through his Whatsapp to Novelette Lothian.
Photo Credit: EFCC
Similarly, Dunu represented himself to be Rafiek Rafiek, Dimitri Folly-Adjo and Philipe Williams Paul, on the Internet and knowingly sent same through his Facebook account- Philipe Williams Paul to one Mrs. Galina Kabarcekov.
In a statement issued by Tony Orilade, Acting EFCC Spokesperson, Ogbu in his part, disguised to be Rev. Father Micheal Donatus, a priest on the internet and knowingly, sent a message through his email to one Kris Mohanpersad, while Chime who also represented himself as Russell March, an American deliberately sent a message through an email account:officialconsult775@gmail.com to several individuals.
However, the convicts all pleaded guilty when their separate one-count charge was read to them respectively.
Ernest Isiewu, the defense counsel, also, asked the court to temper justice with mercy on the grounds that the convicts were all first offenders.
However, Dalyop Eunice Vou, the prosecution counsel, in view of the guilty plea of the convicts, asked the court to sentence them based on the plea bargain agreement they entered with the Commission.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at oadanikin@icirnigeria.org. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin