By Fresh Facts Crime Desk-
In a decisive blow against cybercrime, the Federal High Court in Calabar has convicted and sentenced nine individuals for various offences related to internet fraud. The convictions were handed down by Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and Rosemary Oghoghorie Dugbo in separate rulings delivered recently.
The convicted individuals are: Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor, Aneikan Monday Akpan, Igwe Greg, Ubong Emmanuel, Columba Chukwubuikem David, Edet Christopher Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Sunday Aniete, and Fidelis Andrew Effiom.
Their prosecutions were spearheaded by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges brought against them ranged from obtaining money under false pretences and cyber impersonation to money laundering and unlawful retention of criminal proceeds.
In one of the cases, Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor was found guilty of taking possession of $3,000, knowing it was the proceeds of fraud. Justice Ojukwu sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment on each of two counts, with an option to pay a fine of N1 million. Additionally, he was ordered to restitute the full $3,000 to his victim. The jail terms are to run concurrently.
Similarly, Aneikan Monday Akpan, who had impersonated a Korean national named Hwan Yeong on social media to defraud his victim of $300, was also convicted. He, along with co-defendants Igwe Greg and Columba David, received 12-month sentences on two-count charges, also to run concurrently. David was further directed to refund $1,800 to his victim.
Ubong Emmanuel was sentenced to six months imprisonment on a one-count charge.
In another ruling, Justice Dugbo sentenced Edet Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Aniete, and Fidelis Effiom to two years in prison each, with an option of fines. They were also ordered to forfeit fraudulent gains of $300, $180, and $1,300 respectively to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
All the defendants pleaded guilty when their charges were read in court. EFCC prosecutors Joshua Abolarin and Khamis Mahmud urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Their respective defence counsels—Udeme Tom, David Akpanifum, and Emmanuel Nsebe—pleaded for leniency.
The judgments underscore the EFCC’s continued crackdown on cybercrime across Nigeria, particularly in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
