Six internet fraudsters in Abuja have been convicted on one count separate charges bordering internet fraud.
Justice O. I. Adelaja of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja convicted the fraudsters on Thursday, August 31.
In a statement on Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its Abuja Zonal Command docked the convicts.
The convicts are Anekwu Chibuike Peterdamian, Eta Iso Okang, Kolawole Michael Taiwo, Ohue Daniel, Ocholi Husseni and Olatunji Anuoluwapo Johnson.
The charges against two of the defendants read: “that you Anekwu Chibuike Perterdamian (aka Nguyen Dinh) sometime in 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a pilot in the United States of America through dating site and obtained the sum of $7,000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) from one Christian through Bitcoin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
“That you, Eta Iso Okang sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did cheat by personation when you created an Instagram Account pretending to be Theodora, a United States of America citizen, a fact which you knew to be false and in that assumed character obtained the sum of $4,150 (Four Thousand One Hundred and Fifty US Dollars) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Law Laws of the Federation (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Laws”.
They all pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Justice Adelaja convicted and sentenced Anekwu to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N2 million.
He is also to forfeit the sum of $4,000, a Mercedes Benz CLA 250 car and phones to the Federal Government.
Eta bagged two years jail term or a fine of N2 million.
In addition, he is to forfeit $4,150, mobile phones and a laptop computer to the Federal Government.
Ohue, Ocholi and Olatunji received one year jail term with an option of N500,000 fine, while Kolawole received a non-custodial sentence.
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