Crime

See the Names of Eight People Sentenced for Internet Fraud in Akwa Ibom

Published by admin on June 22nd, 2024.

See the Names of Eight People Sentenced for Internet Fraud in Akwa Ibom

By Patrick Odey

Eight people convicted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Uyo has successfully secured the conviction of eight individuals involved in internet fraud in Akwa Ibom State.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale announced the convictions in a statement on Saturday. Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, handed down the sentences.

The fraudsters were prosecuted on charges of criminal impersonation, identity theft, and obtaining money by false pretenses. The convicted individuals are Abasiofon Daniel Essien (alias Jason Momoa), Gideon Junior, Edikan Ubong, Harrison Chiemelie, Ndifereke Umoh, Christopher Promise, Effiong Wisdom, and Godswill Nsikan.

One of the charges against Essien read: “That you, Abasiofon Daniel Essien (aka Jason Momoa), sometime in 2023, in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, did take possession of $300, knowing that the money was part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, namely identity theft, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

A charge against Wisdom read: “That you, Effiong Wisdom (aka Pamela Randy), sometime in November 2023, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, did fraudulently present yourself as Pamela Randy to Michael Moore on social media platforms Facebook/Instagram with the intent to gain advantage, taking possession of $170, knowing the money was part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, namely impersonation, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

All eight defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Prosecutor Khamis Mahmud presented their confessional statements and incriminating evidence from their mobile phones to the court, urging for their conviction and sentencing.

The judge sentenced each individual to two years in prison. Additionally, Umoh, Promise, Chiemelie, and Nsikan were given the option to pay fines of N2 million each. Junior, Essien, and Ubong were given the option to pay N1.5 million each, while Wisdom was given a N1 million fine option.

Furthermore, Essien, Junior, Ubong, and Chiemelie were ordered to restitute $100, $300, $170, and N140,000 respectively to their victims. Umoh, Promise, Wisdom, and Nsikan were ordered to restitute $70, $140, N100,000, and $50 respectively.

The convicts also forfeited their mobile phones, which were used as tools for their crimes, to the government.