Justice O. I. Adelaja, presiding over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kubwa, has rendered verdicts in a case involving 15 individuals charged with internet fraud.
These individuals, found guilty, include Emmanuel Ndubuisi Junior, Obinna Favour, Azuh Chidubem, Christopher Enaho, Abdullahi Sani, Atoyebi Damilare James, Chinonso Peter, Israel Samuel, Matthew Gideon, Eugene Joseph Boniface, Derick Beshel, Suleiman Dauda, Aliu Dauda, Ikechukwu Idris, and Godwin Ifeanyi.
One of the charges against them revolved around Emmanuel Ndubuisi Junior, who operated under the alias Daniel Howard in 2021.
He was accused of fraudulent impersonation, misrepresenting himself as Daniel Howard, a Brazilian citizen and crypto investment manager, using the Gmail address danielhowardsteve@gmail.com.
In this scheme, he deceitfully obtained $7,800 from a victim named Sophia.
This act constituted an offense as per Section 321 of the Penal Code Act (Abuja) Cap 532, LFN 2004, punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
All the accused individuals pleaded guilty to the one-count charges brought against them.
Consequently, Justice Adelaja sentenced Emmanuel Ndubuisi Junior to a one-year jail term or the option to pay a fine of N2 million.
He was also required to forfeit the $7,800 to the Federal Government.
Similarly, Obinna Favour received a one-year jail term or a fine of N1 million, Azuh Chidubem was sentenced to one year in jail or a fine of N1 million, and Godwin Ifeanyi was handed a one-year jail term or a fine of N500,000.
The remaining convicts received non-custodial sentences, involving various hours of community service supervised by officers of the Correctional Service.
Additionally, all the convicted individuals are obliged to forfeit their phones to the Federal Government.
