A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, convicted four fraudsters for cybercrimes, an offence that runs contrary to section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.
The convicts, Omosebi Ezekiel Timi, Sunday Boateng, Ibrahim Sani and Victor Madu Egbuchua were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate count charges.
They had pleaded “guilty” to their charges when it was read to them.
One of the charges read, “That you, Omosebi Ezekiel Timi on or about 29th day of September 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently represent yourself as one Evan Townsend from United States of America in your Facebook and other Social Media Account with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”
Delivering the judgement, Justices A. T. Mohammed, S. I. Mark, and E. A. Obile, convicted and sentenced the duo of Timi and Sani to two years in Correctional Service with an option of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) fine for Timi while Sani was given a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Boateng was sentenced to one year in the Correctional Service with Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00) as an option of fine while Egbuchua, was sentenced to three years in Correctional Service with Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) as fine payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Judges also ordered that one iPhone 12, one blue iPhone 12 Smartphone, one iPhone 7, one-touch light phone and one Lenovo laptop the convicts used in committing the crime to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
