The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of five undergraduates for internet-related fraud before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court.
EFCC disclosed this on Saturday in a statement shared on its Twitter page.
The convicts, Chidebere Stanley Opara (Avail Hollywood), Manasseh Sefa Ephraim (aka Felicia_dannyels), Victor Odeh (aka Christopher Anderson), Chukwukere Obinna Paul ( aka Shaun Lee) and Enyogu Etim Ekpo (aka Henry Wilson; JASDAV7), were convicted of one count separate charge bordering on internet fraud.
The anti-graft agency arrested the fraudsters in a sting operation. The agency disclosed that the investigation revealed the convicts created fictitious accounts on various social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims. Most of the victims are foreigners.
The charge partly read, "Chidebere Stanley Opara sometime in May 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Avail Hollywood (an American Citizen) on "Google Chat " (an online social media application) and in such assumed character cheated one Duke Hardy”.
The offence is contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.
They all pleaded guilty to charges against them.
In the light of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, E.K Garba, M. E Eimonye and K.S Ogunlade urged the court to convict them accordingly.
Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced the defendants to two years imprisonment with an option of N150,000 fine each and to forfeit all proceeds of the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Credit: Twitter | officialEFCC
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