29 bag jail term over Internet fraud in Kano

Abdullateef Fowewe

Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano has found 29 internet fraudsters guilty and sentenced them to prison.

According to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, the individuals identified as convicts are: Prosper Godfrey, Igwe Ebenezer Chiwendu, Bolodeoku Daniel, Nduka Samuel Uche, Isaac Omeiza, Obasi Solomon Chimerie, ThankGod Adeniyi, Obasi Joshua Mmaduabuchi, Emmanuel Eyo, Dominion Elejo Jeremiah, John Godswill Amedu, Daniel Olusegun Ajibola, Abdulwaris Animasahun, and Okechukwu Kingsley Ejim.

Others are: Omojuyigbe Ifeoluwa Simon, Jeremiah Odey, Joseph Gideon, Achor Joseph, Bala Meshack, Bawa Abubakar, David Ajibola Damilola, Tijani Tobi Emmanuel, Abdulquadri Animasahun, Arinze Daniel Nwachukwu, Arinze Orajiuka, James Peter Ayemoba, Hassan Abraham Adamu, Moses Friday and Bernard Joseph Imalegwu.

These individuals were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, each facing a separate one-count charge, except for Ejim, who faced two counts. All charges are related to impersonation, cybercrime, retention of the proceeds of crime, and money laundering.

The charge against Prosper reads, “That you Prosper Godfrey (a.k.a Goodlife001), male, sometime in April, 2025 in Nassarawa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated Goodlife001 via a fake Facebook account with intent to gain advantage for yoursel from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committted an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Etc Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.

That of Chiwendu reads, “That you Igwe Ebenezer Chiwendu, sometime in March, 2025 in Nassarwa State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, retained the total sum of $500.00 (Five Hundred United States Dollars) which you knew formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel M.U Gadaka and M. Lawal prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Shuaibu convicted and sentenced Chiwendu to four years imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited a Samsung Galaxy A34 5G mobile phone, being the tool of his crime and the sum of $500 (Five Hundred Dollars), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.

Ejim was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment or to pay N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPhone 12 Promax, being the tool of his crime and the sums of $100 USD (One Hundred United States Dollars) and N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.

Simon was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPhone 16 Promax, being the tool of his crime, a motorcycle and the sum of $320 (Three Hundred and Twenty United States Dollars), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.

Odey was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPhone 13 Promax and two Airtel Routers, being the tools of his crime, and the sum of £140 (One Hundred and Forty British Pounds), being the proceeds of his crime, respectively to the federal government.