Court Convicts Seven Internet Fraudsters In Enugu

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, June 3rd, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday secured the conviction of seven internet fraudsters before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on separate charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretenses from unsuspecting foreign nationals.

The convicts are: Nwafor Clinton Chetachi, Utogbo Joseph,Omilo Collins Chimere, Enegide Ifeanyi Kizito, Chukwuajama Collins Arinze, Victor Udekwe and Chukwudi Emmanuel.

African Examiner reports that the charge against Nwafor Clinton Chetachi reads, “That you, Nwafor Clinton Chetachi sometime in April 2022 at Owerri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one American military personnel serving in Syria using the name of one Britton Thomas, an American Citizen, in order to gain advantage for yourself from Kristine, a Russian woman residing in Latvia, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.

All the seven defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them. Justice Buba sentenced all to one year imprisonment with various options of fine.

The fines are to be paid into the TSA account’s, just as they are also to forfeit their phones which will be auctioned by the EFCC and the proceeds paid into the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Account.