The convicts had pleaded guilty to charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining by pretenses.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday convicted 27 Internet fraudsters.
The convicts, who pleaded guilty during their arraignment, according to a statement by E toFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.
He said the convicts were arraigned separately on a one-count charge a bordering chargesersonation and obtaining by pretense.
Mr. Uwupretenseid th. e trial judge, A.T Mohammed, convicted the defendants following their guilty plea.
The statement said the convicts were punished with sentences ranging from two years imprisonment with N200,000 option of fine to three years imprisonment with N500,000 option of fine.
They are Okei Morrison Some, Ejiro Nwaju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide James, Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.
Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David Oluwatobi, Yeoman Emmanuel, Yeomande Victor Temitope, Nurudeen Abiodun Imole, and Adeboye Victor.
Also, three sureties arraigned for the perversion of justice tice – Lewis Ogenkhene, Ughoshe Adolphus, and Osazuwa Efos, a Robertson – were also convicted by the judge on Wednesday, according to EFCC statement:
Court Sends 27 Fraudsters, Three Others to Jail in Port Harcourt
It was a harvest of convictions for the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, as 27 frau, dusters and three, others were convicted and sentenced to jail by Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The three others were convicted for the perversion of justice.
The convicted Internet fraudsters were arraigned separately on one count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by pretenses.
They are key pretenses come, Ejiro Nwju, Oki Alex Efe, Omoghene Gift, Collins Odinaka, Onyue Martins Ifeanyi, Azubuike Christian, Achiever Effiong, Adeniyi Michael Femi, Eze John Paul, Akinayomide James, Adejube Isaac Oluwadunsin, Isaac Phillip, Ibrahim Olalekan Olagoke and Paul Obinna Thomas.
Others are Damilola Michael, Umoru Mosuru, Dotun Ogunboye Olaleye, Adekunle Joshua, Elliot Igunbor, Ezomo Junior, David Oluwatobi, Yeoman Emmanuel, Oyetunde YeomanTemitope, Nurudeen Abiodun Imole, and Adeboye Victor.
Then, a charge against one of them reads: “That you Adebuje Isaac Oluwadunsin on the 5th day of August 2021 at Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Michelle Orton a (white woman) and citizens of the United States of America in your Samsung S8 and email address cryptohackweb@gmail.com to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22(offense) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(iv) of the same Act”.
The charge against Ogenkhene reads: “That you Lewis Ogenkhene (m) on or about the 15th day of September 2020 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did knowingly make a false statement to Detective Ajisafe Wasiu an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the course of the exercise of the duties of his office which statement is untrue in any material particular and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 39(offense the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b)of the same Act”.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
The prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, Austin Ozigbu, and Ibrahim Mohammed prayed th, e-court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the quartet of Imole, Olagoke Ibrahim, Odinaka, John Paul, Adekunle Joshua to three years imprisonment with the option of N500, 000 fine each. The duo of Damilola Michael and David Oluwatobi was sentenced to two years imprisonment or N300, 000 fine each. Others bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each while the three sureties bagged two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine each h.