The Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice S.M. Shuaibu, has sentenced 12 fraudsters to jail for multiple frauds.
This was contained in a statement issued by the commission on Wednesday; the convicted suspects were prosecuted by EFCC for crimes bordering on cybercrime, impersonation and money laundering.
The convicts are Michael Yakubu, Udo Promise Jonah, Promise Isah Ibrahim, Samuel Odeh, Abdulsamad Muhammad, Agboeze Chibueke Ernest, Ochuba Chigozie, Abu David Eleojo, David Aaron, Chidi Destiny Chidiebere, Collins Noel, and Ola Ajibola.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges bordering on cybercrime, impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The charge against Yakubu reads: “That you, Michael Yakubu (a.k.a. Beksolk_official), sometimes in April, 2025, at Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Beksolk_Official (a United States of America citizen) on Instagram (a social media platform) and in such assumed character obtained the sum of $300 (three hundred USD) from unsuspecting victims, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Etc. Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
That of Chigozie reads: “That you, Ochuba Chigozie, sometime in April, 2025, in Tammah Nasarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the total sum of $200.00 (two hundred United States dollars), which you knew that such fund forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which the prosecution counsel, M. Lawal and M.U. Gadaka, asked the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients have become remorseful of their actions.
Justice Shuaibu sentenced Chigozie and Eleojo to five years’ imprisonment, respectively, or to pay a ₦500,000.00 (five hundred thousand naira) fine, each. In addition, Chigozie forfeited an Infinix X68IIB mobile phone and the sum of $200 (two hundred dollars), while Abu forfeited an iPhone 14 Pro Max and the sum of $300 (three hundred dollars).
Aaron, Yakubu, Jonah and Odeh were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each or to pay a N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira) fine, respectively. In addition, Aaron forfeited an iPhone II and the sum of $400.00 (four hundred United States dollars); Yakubu forfeited an Oppo A18 mobile phone and the sum of $300.00 (three hundred dollars); Jonah forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 and the sum of $200.00 (two hundred dollars); while Odeh forfeited a Redmi 13C mobile phone and the sum of $30.00 (thirty USD).
Chidiebere was convicted and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment or to pay a N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited the iPad Pro II and the sum of $100 (One Hundred United States Dollars).
Noel, Ajibola and Ernest were convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, respectively, or to pay a N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira) fine, each. In addition, Noel forfeited an iPhone 16 Plus, Ajibola forfeited an Infinix Hot 40i mobile phone and the sum of $350.00 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars), while Agboeze forfeited an Apple laptop computer and the sum of $190 (One Hundred and Ninety Dollars).
Ibrahim and Muhammad were convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, respectively, or to pay a ₦300,000.00 (three hundred thousand naira) fine, each. Ibrahim forfeited an iPhone 12 and the sum of $115 (One Hundred and Fifteen Dollars), while Muhammad forfeited an iPhone 16 and the sum of $260 (Two Hundred and Sixty Dollars).
All the forfeitures are to the federal government. The convicts were arrested in Nassarawa and Niger State following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.
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