EFCC Prosecutes Man for Internet Fraud in Port Harcourt

In a significant move against cybercrime, Justice S. D. Pam of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced Daniel Walter Anga to prison for internet fraud. The prosecution was carried out by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of impersonation.

The charge specifically stated that Anga, on February 21, 2024, fraudulently impersonated Hudson Cole, a white male veteran military officer, with the intent to gain an advantage for himself. This act contravened Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, which carries significant penalties for such offenses. Upon hearing the charge, Anga pleaded guilty, leading to the presentation of evidence by the prosecution, including the defendant’s statement and incriminating printouts from his mobile device, an iPhone 12.

Court’s Verdict and Sentencing

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, I. Agu, presented documents and called a witness, ASE 1, Yahaya Yusuf Abbas, an EFCC operative, who testified against Anga. The evidence highlighted Anga’s involvement in a romance scam, using false identities on platforms like Facebook and Gmail to deceive his victims. Based on the presented evidence and testimonies, Agu urged the court to convict and sentence Anga accordingly.

Defense counsel J. J. Simon pleaded for leniency, noting that Anga was a first-time offender and had not wasted the court’s time by contesting the charges. Considering these factors, Justice Pam sentenced Anga to one year imprisonment but offered the option of a N20,000.00 fine. Additionally, Anga’s iPhone 12 was forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, serving as a deterrent to potential fraudsters.

The EFCC’s successful prosecution of Anga underscores the agency’s commitment to combating internet fraud and protecting the public from cybercriminals. This case highlights the importance of strict enforcement of cybercrime laws and the judicial system’s role in delivering justice.

EFCC Secures Conviction of Two Internet Fraudsters in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters, Emmanuel Isaac and Kelvin Ibrahim. The convictions were delivered by Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, emphasizing the judiciary’s commitment to combating cybercrime in Nigeria.

Isaac was charged with two counts of cheating by impersonation, while Ibrahim faced a single count of impersonation. The charges detailed how both individuals used the stolen identities of foreigners to defraud unsuspecting victims. Specifically, Isaac pretended to be Bea Suzy, a South Korean actress, deceiving several victims including one David Vargas. Meanwhile, Ibrahim impersonated Susinna Simone, an Italian fashion model, using the email address privatechat2422@gmail.com to scam members of the public.

Sentencing and Asset Forfeiture

Upon pleading guilty to the charges, Justice Bello sentenced Emmanuel Isaac to two years imprisonment on each count, with an option to pay a fine of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) per count. Additionally, Isaac was ordered to forfeit an Apple iPhone X and a sum of N309,850.00 (Three Hundred and Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty Naira) to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.

Kelvin Ibrahim received a sentence of three years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). He was also required to forfeit a Techno Pop-6 phone and $100 to the government. These sentences reflect the court’s stance on penalizing cybercriminals while also recovering illicit gains made from fraudulent activities.

The successful prosecution and sentencing of Isaac and Ibrahim underscore the EFCC’s dedication to curbing cybercrime. Their arrest and subsequent conviction serve as a deterrent to other potential fraudsters and reaffirm the commitment of EFCC authorities to protect citizens from internet fraud.