On August 12, 2024, the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of five internet fraudsters. Justice C.O. Agashieze of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sentenced the individuals on separate charges of obtaining by false pretense.
The convicted fraudsters are Desmond Ikpefua, Oyeniji Efosa Temitope, Exiobor Raphael, Emmanuel Gabriel, and Samuel Owoicho.
The charge against Emmanuel Gabriel stated, “That you, Emmanuel Gabriel, sometime in 2024 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, cheated by impersonation when you falsely presented yourself as Melsse Moore, a female celebrity, and under that guise, obtained the sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200) from Mark Williams under the pretense of being in a romantic relationship with her, a fact you knew to be false, thereby committing 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 Law.”
Similarly, the charge against Desmond Ikpefua read, “That you, Desmond Ikpefua, sometime in 2024 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to commit the offence of cheating by impersonation when you created a fake Skype App and Gmail profile, pretending to be Nurhaiza Johnston, an Executive Director at Volvo Group, which you were not, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read out in court. Prosecuting Counsel M.U. Shariff then requested the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
