Kaduna Courts Jail 13 for Internet Fraud

Court

By JUMOKE SANNI

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of 13 internet fraudsters before Justices A. Isiaka, A.A. Bello and M.J Zubairu, respectively of the State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.

The convicts are: Emmanuel Abelo Mike, Joseph David, Obinna Christopher, Godwin Felix, John Opayemi Olusegun, Benjamin Yusuf, Richard Kazzah, Meshack Yohanna, Joseph Philip, Kelly Ebiare, Moses Kizito Kyangma, Danjuma Micah and Jethro Umaru.

They were prosecuted on separate one-count charges, bordering on impersonation, cheating and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Olusegun reads: “That you, John Opayemi Olusegun (a.k.a Denzel Washington) sometime in June, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: cheating by impersonation when you falsely represented yourself as Denzel Washington and such assumed identity, induced one Jacob Mayers to send to you the total sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars, only) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.

The charge against Umaru reads: “That you, Jethro Umaru (a.k.a Thomas Crew), male, sometime in December, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Thomas Crew when you pretended to be a military officer from United State of America on Facebook and obtained the sum of $521(Five Hundred and Twenty One Dollars) from unsuspecting persons, and you thereby committed Cheating by impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law, 2017 of Kaduna State and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which prosecution counsel, M.Arumemi, M.Lawal and M.U Gadaka, prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Bello convicted and sentenced David, Mike and Christopher to three years imprisonment, each or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition, David forfeited his blue Oppo A83 mobile phone, Mike forfeited his Infield 7plus and Christopher forfeited his Samsung S8, being the tools of their crime to the federal government.

He convicted and sentenced Felix to two years imprisonment or to pay N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Samsung Galaxy, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.

He convicted and sentenced Olusegun to five years imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 14 Pro and the sum of $200 (Two Hundred Dollars), being the tool and proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.

Justice Zubairu convicted and sentenced Yusuf, Kazzah, Yohanna, Kyangma and Micah to two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition, Yusuf forfeited his Samsung S8 plus, Kazzah forfeited his Oppo A83, Yohanna forfeited his iphone 11pro, Micah forfeited his Samsung S10 and Kyangma forfeit his iPhone 11, being the tools of their crimes to the federal federal.

Furthermore, Justice Zubairu convicted and sentenced Philp and Ebiare to five years imprisonment, each or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition, Philp forfeited his Infinix Smart 7 mobile phone and Ebiare forfeited his Samsung A16, being the tools of their crime to the federal government.

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Umaru to two years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 16 and the sum of $521(Five Hundred and Twenty-one United States of America Dollars), being the tool and proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.

The convicts were arrested in Kafanchan, Buzong and Unguwan Maigero areas of Kaduna State by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.