As Commission Secures Sentence of Another Fraudster In Uyo.
The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of twenty internet fraudsters.
The convicts are : Pius Daniel Damba, Amachon Solomon Ajiduku , Ephraim Ammam , Clement Daniel, Victor Ale , Abdul Rahman Bashir Gimba Magaji,
Caleb Ephesian , Kenneth Justine Chinemeren , Ruboh Danjuma Zogimba , Emmanuel Gangana Burba, Kingsley Adashi Adeh , Rechard Unah Ojor
Others are: Motiyedi Dore, Godwin David Haruna, Henry Abraham, Mashi Ambrose, Ambition Zare Boniface, Joshua Mark Asose, and Tonga Samuel.
They were arraigned on charges bordering on impersonation , intent to defraud and cheating before Justices Aminu Gaba , MA Sambo and Nuhu S. Adi of the Federal and High Courts of Bauchi and Taraba States respectively by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC between May 26 and May 30, 2025.
The charge against Richard Unah Ojor reads: that you Richard Unah Ojor sometimes in 2025 being a Nigerian Citizen living in Bauchi, Bauchi State within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court , knowingly created a ( X account formally Twitter) using your mobile iPhone 14 Pro, with IMEI Number 35213021831333 , with which you fraudulently presented yourself as a Swedish National viz: ” Pastella ” also known as ” Nathalie Henry” a representation which you knew to be false and in the processes engaged one John GG to send you money in form of gift worth $650 USD which you converted and receipt an equivalent into your local currency OPAY Account Number 906939147 and thereby committed an offence of cheating by impersonation , an offence punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges , prompting the prosecution counsel, MD Aliyu , AB Kware , S.E Okemini and JD Tortema to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, but counsels to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who are remorseful of their actions.
Having listened to the prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Garba of the Federal High Court Bauchi convicted and sentenced , Damba , Ajiduku , Amman , Daniel , Ale , Bashir, Magaji , Ephesion , Chiemeren , Zogimba , Burba. and Adeh to eight months imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each.
Justice Sambo of the Bauchi State High court convicted and sentenced Ojor to eighteen months imprisonment or a fine of N150,000( One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
In Taraba State, Justice Adi of the State High Court sitting in Jalingo convicted and sentenced Samuel, Abrahim and Ambrose to six months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira ) each.
Asose , Boniface, Haruna and Dore bagged three months imprisonment with an option of One Hundred Thousand Naira each.
The Judges ruled that the convicts restitute the victims of crime and forfeit laptops and mobile phones, being instruments of crimes, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts’ journey to the Nigerian Correctional Service began when the Commission received petitions from some concerned Nigerians regarding their nefarious activities. They were arrested, arraigned and convicted.
In a related development,Justice Maurine Adaobi of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has convicted and sentenced Elijah Okwa Etenrulimre to three months imprisonment for offences bordering on criminal impersonation on the cyberspace.
Etenrulimere was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ,EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate, on Thursday May 29, 2025, on a one count criminal charge for his illicit activities on the internet.
The charge against Etenrulimre reads;
“That you, Elijah Okwa Etenrulimre (aka Kaley Couco), sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present yourself as Kaley Couco on social media with the intent to gain advantage for yourself, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same Section.”
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded ‘guilty.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Enobong Ubokudom prayed the court to convict the defendant and sentence him in accordance with the provisions of the law.
But the defence counsel, Samson Awuje, pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy and give the defendant a second chance on the grounds that he was remorseful and had promised not to return to crime.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Adaobi convicted and sentenced Etenrulimre to three months jail term to run from the date of his arrest and custody, or pay a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000).
The convict was arrested at his residence in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, on May 5, 2025, by a team of operatives during a sting operation. He was found to be involved in internet fraud, He was thereafter arraigned and convicted.
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