Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port
Harcourt, Rivers state has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster,
Chukwuema Samuel Andrew to 30 (thirty months) imprisonment for impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
He was jailed on two-count charges bordering on obtaining
under false pretence and impersonation upon being arraigned by the Port
Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Count one reads: "That you, Chukwuema Samuel Andrew
(A.K.A Mary Parlier) sometime in April, 2021 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did
obtain the sum of $5,000 (Five Thousand Three Hundred Dollars) Crystal Shepherd
under the pretext of being Mary Parlier, a female military soldier serving in
Yemen as a computer operator, a pretext which to your
knowledge was false and thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 1(1) (a) of
the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006
and punishable under
Section 1(3) of the same Act".
He pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, B. O. Agala prayed
the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
Defense counsel P. U. Ogbuehi did not oppose the submission
of the prosecution but prayed the court to temper justice with mercy stressing
that “the defendant is a first time offender and does not have any previous
criminal records”.
Justice Ajoku after listening to the submissions of both
counsels thereafter convicted and sentenced the defendant to thirty (30) months
imprisonment on counts one and two or an option of fine of N200,
000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account
of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The sentence is to run concurrently.
The judge also ordered that phones recovered from the
convict at the scene of arrest should be forfeited to the Federal Government of
Nigeria and the convict should also depose an affidavit of good behaviour
before the court.
Andrew started his journey to the Correctional Centre when he
was arrested by the EFCC during an operation code named "Eagle Sweep"
sometime in June, 2023, at Golf Estate, Port Harcourt for internet fraud
activities.
He was investigated and found to be impersonating foreigners to dupe his victims. He particularly defrauded his victims to the tune of $5,000. He was later prosecuted and convicted.
