Makurdi Court Sentences Six Internet Fraudsters to Jail

EFCC Secures Conviction of Six Fraudsters in Makurdi, Benue State

The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully obtained the conviction of six individuals involved in fraudulent impersonation. Before Justice Abdul Dogo of a Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, Odumu Emmanuel, Audu Abdulgafar Idowu, Ikwe Daniel Adawu, Benedict Udochukwu Ezeokole, Clement David Onoja, and Lawrence Ndubisi pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. 

They were found guilty under Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 and received varying prison sentences. For instance, Odumu was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the option of paying a One Million Naira fine. 

Additionally, Odumu will forfeit his iPhone and laptops to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Audu received a one-year prison sentence with the option to pay a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). 

Ikwe was sentenced to three years in prison and given the choice to pay a fine of N2 million Naira.

Benedict was sentenced to one year in prison, with the option to pay a fine of N1 million. Additionally, he must forfeit a Lexus 330 car, two laptops, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and an iPhone 7 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Clement received a one-year prison sentence and can pay a fine of One million Naira. He is also required to forfeit an iPhone 11 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Lawrence was sentenced to one year in prison, with the option to pay a fine of One Million Naira. He has been ordered to forfeit an iPhone 12 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The charge against Odumu Emmanuel stated: "Between October 2022 and January 2023 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Odumu Emmanuel fraudulently impersonated Jawarska Malina and Miguel Alenjandra, individuals from the United States of America. He used their unique identification details to register for the Appen social security program and obtained $3,600.00 (Three Thousand and Six Hundred Dollars) in his Gpay foreign online platform account. He then converted and transferred the funds to his Stanbic IBTC Bank Account No. 0025110646. These actions constitute an offense under Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and are punishable under subsection 22(2) of the same Act."