Two judges of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and Rosemary Oghoghorie Dugbo, have convicted and sentenced nine individuals for various cybercrime-related offences, including impersonation, money laundering, and obtaining by false pretence.
The convicts; Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor, Aneikan Monday Akpan, Igwe Greg, Ubong Emmanuel, Columba Chukwubuikem David, Edet Christopher Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Sunday Aniete, and Fidelis Andrew Effiom, were arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on separate charges.
According to a statement by the EFCC on Monday, they were charged under various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act.
The EFCC said the offences were committed between 2023 and 2024.
In one of the charges, the EFCC stated: “That you, Nsofor Charles Ochiabutor ‘M’ sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did take possession and control of $3,000 (Three Thousand United States Dollars) intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretence.”
Another charge against Akpan read: “That you, Aneikan Monday Akpan (a.k.a Hwan Yeong) “M” sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently present yourself as Hwan Yeong on the social media with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did take possession of the aggregate sum of Three Hundred United States Dollars ($300) knowing that the money form part of the proceed of an unlawful act to wit: cyber impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18.”
All nine defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
Prosecution counsels Joshua Abolarin and Khamis Mahmud urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Defence counsels Udeme Tom, David Akpanifum, and Emmanuel Nsebe pleaded for leniency.
Justice Ojukwu sentenced Ochiabutor to 12 months imprisonment on each of his two-count charges or an option of N1 million fine. She also ordered him to pay restitution of $3,000 to his victim.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Aneikan Akpan, Igwe Greg, and Columba David were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on two counts, to run concurrently.
In addition, David must return $1,800 to his victim.
Ubong Emmanuel received six months imprisonment on a one-count charge.
Justice Dugbo, in separate judgments, sentenced Edet Asuquo, Justice Chinonso, David Aniete, and Fidelis Effiom to two years imprisonment each, with the option of fines.
They also forfeited the sums of $300, $180, and $1,300, respectively, to the federal government.