EFCC Secure Conviction of Four Internet Fraudsters in Port Harcourt
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission EFCC, on Tuesday November 22, 2022, secured the conviction of fourinternet fraudsters, Omosebi Ezekiel Timi, Sunday Boateng, Ibrahim Sani and
Victor Madu Egbuchua before Justices A. T. Mohammed, S. I. Mark, and E. A.
Obile of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The offence runs contrary to
section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015
and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.
They were arraigned on a separate
count charge and pleaded "guilty" to their charges when they were
read to them.
Timi's charge reads: "That
you, Omosebi Ezekiel Timi on or about 29th day of September, 2022 within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently represent yourself as
one Evan Townsend from United States of America in your Facebook and other
Social Media Account with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes
(Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv)
of the same Act".
The charge against Boateng reads:
"That you, Sunday Boateng (aka Richard) between January, 2021 to
September, 2021, at Adesa Ughoton, in Warri, Delta State within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently represented yourself as
Richard Williams, a mobile phone vendor resident in the US on Whatsapp Business
Account obtained gift card worth One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty US
Dollars ($1, 850) from My Sissy Love, Catty Simmons and Hendy, American
Citizens and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii)
of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, punishable under Section
22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act".
Prosecution counsel, M. T. Iko, I.
N. Nwosu, E. Abbiyesuku and K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh urged the courts to convict
them in line with their pleas.
Justice Mark convicted and
sentenced the duo of Timi and Sani to two years in the Correctional Service
with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) fine for Timi ,
while Sani was given a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira payable into the
Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Likewise, Justice Mohammed
convicted and sentenced Boateng to one year in the Correctional Service with
Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00) as option of fine.
In the same vein, Justice Obile
also convicted Egbuchua, sentencing him to three years in Correctional Service
with Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) as fine payable into the
Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Judges also ordered that one iPhone 12, one blue iPhone 12 Smart phone, one iPhone 7, one touch light phone and one Lenovo laptop the convicts used in committing the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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