The Federal and State High Courts in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced four individuals, Anthony Chukwu, Madaki Ismail, Samson Aliyu, and Christopher Israel, for internet fraud. The sentences were announced in a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.
The EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command prosecuted the fraudsters on separate charges including impersonation, obtaining by pretense, and money laundering. The defendants were found guilty of committing offenses contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017, punishable under Section 309 of the same law.
Chukwu’s charge stated that he acquired N520,000.00 from unsuspecting individuals through false identity, violating money laundering laws. Aliyu was charged with presenting himself as John Dunwell, a white investment broker, and cheating individuals out of 2,000 Philippine pesos via Instagram.
The presiding judge at the Federal High Court, Justice Aikawa, sentenced Chukwu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00 and Ismail to five years imprisonment or a fine of N500,000.00. Additionally, both were ordered to forfeit N520,000.00 and $310, along with iPhone XR and Samsung S21 mobile phones, to the federal government.
Justice Darius Khobo of the State High Court sentenced Aliyu to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 and Israel to three years imprisonment or a fine of N250,000.00. Aliyu was also ordered to forfeit $50, and both he and Israel had their phones forfeited to the federal government.
The fraudsters were apprehended in Kaduna and Jos based on credible intelligence regarding their fraudulent internet activities.
News Editor