A Federal High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, has found 41 individuals guilty of internet fraud-related crimes and given each of them a one-year prison sentence.
This information was revealed in a statement on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's website on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the convicted individuals, who were apprehended by the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, admitted to charges such as deceiving others for money, possessing fake documents, pretending to be someone else, and helping in criminal activities.
The statement stated, “A Federal High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, presided over by Justices S. M. Shuaibu and Hauwa Inuwa, has found 41 internet fraudsters guilty and sentenced them to one year in prison each.
“The guilty parties were sent to prison after admitting to separate charges of deceiving others for money, having fake documents, pretending to be someone else, and aiding in committing a crime when arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
Justice Inuwa reportedly sentenced 27 of the convicted individuals on Thursday, May 2, while the remaining 14 were sentenced on Friday, May 3.
Those sentenced on May 3 were given the option of paying a ₦100,000 fine each.
The court also ordered community service for the convicted individuals and instructed authorities to sell items seized during the arrests.
“The judges also mandated that the convicts should perform community service per Section 462 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and directed that confiscated items, such as their mobile phones and laptops, be auctioned through the EFCC and the proceeds placed in the Treasury Single Account,
The statement provided the names of the convicted individuals, including Douglas James, Raphael Uwakwe, Paul Kalu, Chisom Linus, Chiemezie Nweke, Eze Stanley, Ndubuisi Nwafor, Ifeanyi Samuel, Nwosu Chukwuemeka, Madueke Emmanuel, Edozie Timothy, Ahmed Lukman, Godwin Julius, Okafor Chiemerie, Ugochukwu Ena, Chukwuemeka Obiji, Chimaobi Gabriel, Abonyi Jude, Chiemelie Christian, and Okafor Desmond.
“Others include Jezreel Arihiakamah Chinwendu, Paul Okereke Chiadi, Peter Chidera Iwu, Onyeji Victor Chinecherem, Tochukwu Eze Solomon, Fred Chidera Okoye, Ezema Chiemerie Stanley, Emeka Ogbonna Daniel, Obinna Stanley Okafor, Udochukwu Peter Nnaewezie, Ebuka Johnson Olu, Okochi Ebuka Stanley, Promise Ogbodo Echezona, Ebuka Chukwu Joshua, Chisom Henry Udeagwueze, Ihechi Okechukwu Bright, Chibueze Maxwell Stephen, Ebuka Lucky Nwankwo, Isah Chinonso Peter, Ifeanyi Oguoke Kingsley, and Chinonso Eze Innocent,” it added.
PUNCH reported in March how the Edo State High Court in Benin City, presided over by Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, found five Internet fraudsters guilty and sentenced them to different prison terms.
