Three persons have been sentenced to different jail terms for criminal impersonation, internet fraud and possession of fraudulent documents by the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the convicts, Abraham Itoro Sunday, Ezea Chidera Charles and Udoh Christopher Gabriel were convicted by Justice Chigozie Sergius Onah after pleading guilty to a one-count, separate charge bordering on cybercrimes, preferred on them by prosecuting Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One charge read, “That you Abraham Itoro Sunday ‘M’ sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this court did fraudulently impersonate Brian O’ Noel on Facebook with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(I) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section”.
Following their guilty pleas, Prosecution counsels, Enobong Ubokudom and Farida Bukar prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
In the judgement delivered Thursday, Justice Onah convicted and sentenced Sunday and Charles to six months imprisonment each with the option of fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only), while Gabriel bagged five months jail term with an option of fine of N150,000.00(One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only).
The court also ordered that three smartphones deployed by the convicts to perpetrate the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Dele Oyewole, Spokesman, EFCC, added that “The convicts started their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Command of the EFCC on November 22, 2023, at different locations in Afaha Atai, in Iko Eket Akwa Ibom State.
“Investigation showed all the convicts impersonated foreigners by using their identities to defraud their victims. While Charles fraudulently portrayed himself as ‘Molina Urovsky’ on Facebook, Sunday portrayed himself as Brian O’niel and Gabriel as Alexander Douglas on Instagram.”