Three internet fraudsters, Onukwugha Favour, Lawrence David and Omoghan Destiny Igbinosa, have been jailed by the Federal High Court in Warri, the capital of Delta State.
Earlier, the convicts were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang ruled that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubts that the defendants were guilty.
One of the convicts, Igbinosa, was arraigned for impersonating Nollywood actor Ninalowo Bolanle in Benin City, Edo State sometime between 2021 and 2022, and had fraudulently sent documents to Newon Quanon through the internet with intent to gain advantage for himself.
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The prosecutor told the court that the offence, contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, is punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.
Also, the second convict, Favour, who was charged with the same offence, was found guilty of impersonating a United States citizen, Mariah_1812, and sending documents to unsuspecting victims to defraud them.
All the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi prayed the court to convict and sentence them, but the defence counsels, A.J. Onwuanaje and Dickson Egberume pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Having found them guilty, Justice Abang sentenced Igbinosa to two years imprisonment or a fine of N1 million while the defendant also forfeited the sum of $2,235 and his phone to the Federal Government.
The duo of Favour and David also forfeited their phones while they were handed one-year imprisonment each or a fine of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively