Anambra: EFCC Secures Conviction of Nine Internet Fraudsters

Court

By TONY ADAMS

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of nine internet fraudsters before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State on offences bordering on cybercrimes.

The convicts are; Daniel Okochukwu Okoh, Onwe Chidera Solomon, Hyacinth Chinedu Ani, Malachy Makuochi Adonu, Udeh Collins Chidimma, Ukoro Victor Somto, Ezekiel Valentine Chidubem, Ugwuanyi Kingsley Chinwetalu and Obi Ezeanyim Eric Ifesinachi.

While Chidimma and Adonu were prosecuted on two-count separate charges, the remaining convicts were prosecuted on one-count separate charges, all bordering on identity theft and fraudulent personation.

The charge against Somto reads; “That you, Ukoro Victor Somto “Male” (21 years), sometime in 2025, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with fraudulent intent, did impersonate Carly Kuiken, A female foreigner and actress based in the United States of America, through a telegram account via your Samsung S10e, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting nationals and in order to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) and (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 (as amended) and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act”.

The charge against Okoh reads; “That you, Daniel Okochukwu Okoh, sometime in May, 2025 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated by misrepresenting yourself in a fake Instagram account with the username Igorbest 2023, where you presented yourself as a Russian who lives in Australia while chatting with one Lubov Bustova, a Russian lady, through fake Instagram account by means of your infinix i40 with IMEI No352329941328186 phone, with the intent to gain advantage from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015”.