Court Jails Nine Persons In Akwa Ibom For Cybercrime, Internet Fraud
Court Jails Nine Persons In Akwa Ibom For Cybercrime, Internet Fraud
The convicts were arrested and arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted and sentenced nine individuals to various jail terms for cybercrime-related offences ranging from impersonation to money laundering and obtaining by false pretence.
The judgments were delivered by Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and Rosemary Oghoghorie Dugbo in separate rulings.
The convicts were arrested and arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts, Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor, Aneikan Monday Akpan, Igwe Greg, Ubong Emmanuel, Columba Chukwubuikem David, Edet Christopher Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Sunday Aniete, and Fidelis Andrew Effiom, were arraigned on various charges under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act.
According to an EFCC statement released on Monday, the offences were committed between 2023 and 2024.
In one of the charges, the EFCC said, “That you, Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor ‘M’ sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession and control of $3,000 intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretence.”
Another charge against Aneikan Monday Akpan read, “That you, Aneikan Monday Akpan (a.k.a Hwan Yeong) “M” sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently present yourself as Hwan Yeong on the social media with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did take possession of the aggregate sum of $300 knowing that the money form part of the proceed of an unlawful act to wit: cyber impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18.”
All nine defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsels, Joshua Abolarin and Khamis Mahmud, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
However, defence counsels Udeme Tom, David Akpanifum, and Emmanuel Nsebe pleaded for leniency.
In her judgment, Justice Ojukwu sentenced Ochiabutor to 12 months imprisonment on each of his two-count charges or a fine of N1 million in lieu of jail time.
She also ordered him to pay $3,000 in restitution to his victim. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Similarly, Aneikan Akpan, Igwe Greg, and Columba David were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on two counts, also to run concurrently.
David was further ordered to refund $1,800 to his victim.
Ubong Emmanuel was sentenced to six months imprisonment on a one-count charge.
In separate rulings, Justice Dugbo sentenced Edet Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Aniete, and Fidelis Effiom to two years imprisonment each with the option of fines.
They also forfeited $300, $180, and $1,300 respectively to the federal government.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring that perpetrators face the full weight of the law.
