The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured convictions against 11 individuals involved in cybercrime and impersonation. These internet fraudsters were separately charged and found guilty by Justice A.A. Isaiah of the Kaduna State High Court.
The EFCC, in a statement released on Friday, revealed that the fraudsters were apprehended in different locations in Abuja and Kaduna following actionable intelligence on their illicit activities. Their actions violated Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and Section 308 of the same law, both punishable under Section 309 of the same legislation.
The convicted individuals include Chijioke John (alias Robert Adams), Lisumi Emmanuel (alias Kingsley Kane), Malik Adanu Jibril (alias Phil Godlewski), Franklin Kingsley Onyejekwe (alias Eric Lopez), Ogedengbe Emmanuel (alias Made Johnson), Chidozie Timothy Mgbemena (alias William Alfred), Ugonna Oscar Ezema (alias Natalia), Benjamin Odeh (alias Park Hyung Sik), Mamah Jude Ifeanyi (alias Ibrahim Nasir), Adewale Ayuba Sikiru (alias Gerald Scott), and Shuaibu Umar Smart (alias Jennifer Curry).
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, E.K Garba, M.E Eimonye, Y.J. Matiyak, and K.S Ogunlade urged the court to deliver appropriate convictions.
Justice Isiaka duly convicted and sentenced the defendants to varying terms of imprisonment. In addition, they were given the option to pay fines. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all electronic devices used in the commission of their crimes, as well as the proceeds of their illicit activities to the Federal Government.