A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided over by Justice E.A Obile on Thursday convicted and sentenced a ‘United States of America military officer’, Chibueze Okenwa to two years imprisonment for impersonation.
Okenwa allegedly presented himself as Weirt Rodriguz and a United States military officer to one Katia Massoni from Brazil with intent to gain monetary advantage and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) ( i & ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
He was initially arraigned on March 4, 2021 by the Port Harcourt zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commisdion (EFCC) and pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.
However, at the resumed hearing on March 18, 2021, Okenwa opted to change his plea to ‘guilty’ following his re-arraignment.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, Mr M. Ibekwute prayed the court to convict him accordingly.
However, the defense counsel, Mr J.I Owubokiri prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Obile convicted and sentenced Okenwa to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N350, 000.
The judge also ordered that the phone which was used to commit the crime be forfeited to the Federal Government through disposal by public auction and the proceeds paid into the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
Similarly, a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna and presided over by Justice P. Malong on Friday convicted and sentenced one Precious Musa for internet fraud.
Recall that the Kaduna zonal office of the EFCC had on March 11, 2021 arraigned Musa on a three-count charged that bordered on cybercrime-related offences.
Musa was reportedly arrested in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following intelligence which linked him to series of fraudulent activities, including false representation, identity theft and obtaining by deception.
The defendant initially pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge against him but at the resumed hearing on March 19, 2021, he pleaded ‘guilty’ to an amended charge following a plea bargain.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Jamil Musa prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Consequently, Malong convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of fine to the tune of N400, 000.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay N530, 000 restitution to his victim.
In another suit brought by the EFCC, Mallong also convicted and sentenced one Jeffson Arinze to two years imprisonment on one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and impersonation.
The convict was, however, presented with an option of N500, 000 in lieu of serving the jail term.
Jeffson was arrested in Faringada, Jos, Plateau State over a love scam after he allegedly defrauded one Jean Morgan, a female U.S citizen of $800 in Bitcoin.
The convict allegedly posed as Edward Carson and resident in Kingman, Arizona, USA.
Following his arrangement on March 18, 202, Jeffson pleaded ‘guilty’ to the one-count charge.
The judge after his conviction also ordered him to pay a restitution of $600 to the victim through the United States Embassy, Abuja.
