Anambraa Court Jails 10 for Internet Fraud

Court

By JUMOKE SANNI

Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has convicted and sentenced 10 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The convicts are; Onyekwulu Lawrence Obiajulu, Onyedikachi Favour Eze, Olisa Philemon Olijo, Okafor Shedrack Chidindu, Ogbodo Chisom Ugochukwu, Nweke Godswill Chinemerem, Oseloka Ogo Patrick, Nnaji Pascal Chijioke, Chibueze Obumneme Frank-Gabriel and Ibekwe Jonathan.

They were prosecuted by the Enugu zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate charges, bordering on impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.

One of the charges against Olijo reads: “That you, Olisa Philemon Olijo sometime in 2025, at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, directly retained the sum of N4,600,000 paid into your account number 5492732757 domiciled with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank which you reasonable ought to know forms part of the proceed of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (1) (2) (b) (d) (6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act”.

The charge against Patrick reads: “That you, Oseloka Ogo Patrick, “Male” (32years) sometime in 2025 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretences and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

They all pleaded “guilty” to their respective charges when they were read to them. In view of their pleas, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Michael Ikechukwu Ani reviewed the facts of the cases, tendered several documents and mobile phones which were admitted in evidence as exhibits. The prosecution thereafter prayed the court to convict and sentenced them accordingly.