In a significant victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Abuja Zonal Command has successfully secured the conviction of Eze Richard, an internet fraudster.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the commission on Friday June 23, 2023.
According to the statement, Richard appeared before Justice I. Mohammed at the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada-Abuja on a single count charge.
“The prosecution alleged that Richard, operating within Abuja earlier this year, assumed the identity of an American citizen to deceive Ajay Prajapati,” the commission revealed.
Under this false pretense, he fraudulently convinced Prajapati to transfer the sum of $3,500, masquerading it as a betting transaction on his behalf.
The court maintained that these actions by Richard are in violation of Section 320 of the Penal Code law (Laws of the Federation, Abuja) 1990, and are punishable under Section 322 of the same law.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting Justice Mohammed to deliver the verdict.
Consequently, Eze Richard has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment, with the option of paying a fine of N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira).
The court also ordered the forfeiture of his vehicle and iPhone, both of which were identified as proceeds of the criminal activities, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In a separate yet similar case, Justice V.S Garba of the FCT High Court in Kuje-Abuja has also handed down a one-year prison sentence or a fine of N70,000 (Seventy Thousand Naira) to Philip Okonkwo.
Okonkwo pleaded guilty to impersonating Lan Hills, a financial officer at Core in Canada, with the intent of fraudulently obtaining $500 from Mrs. Sally.
These convictions represent a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat internet fraud in the country.
The EFCC continues its relentless pursuit of justice and will spare no effort in bringing perpetrators of such crimes to book.