Seven internet fraudsters, including a 32-year-old electrical engineer, Daniel Ejiofor Nzubechi, have been convicted and sentenced to various prison terms and community service by different courts in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
The convicts were sentenced for offences bordering on cybercrime, impersonation, and retention of proceeds of unlawful activities.
The convictions followed separate charges filed by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the defendants identified as Nzubechi, Akaba Enesi Yunusa, Adewale Joy Adebowale, Ojo John Oluwatobi, Oseni Ismail Opeyemi, Yunus Jamiu, and Abayomi Abdulganiyu Kolade.
The charge against Nzubechi reads:
“That you, Daniel Ejiofor Nzubechi , sometime in 2025, at Lokoja, Kogi State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, did fraudlently impersonated one David Garrett , a white male based in United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself from Hufluger Maria, whom you chatted with via your Zangi Account with username: David Garrett and did gain the sum of $200 via Gift cards and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (2)(I) of the cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.”
Adewale was accused of retaining the control of N1,225,443.00 in his bank account number: 2037236184 with the name: Adewale Joy Adebowale domiciled with KUDA Microfinance Bank, knowing the same to be proceeds of criminal conduct.
Prosecution said the offence is contrary to, and punishable under Section 17 (a) &(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, found Nzubechi guilty of impersonating one David Garrett, a fictitious white male based in the United States, through whom he defrauded an unsuspecting victim of $200 via gift cards.
The judge sentenced Nzubechi to six months’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of his Samsung A05 phone and the recovered sum of $200 to the federal government.
The same court found Yunusa guilty and sentenced him to 150 hours of community service at five hours daily and forfeited his Infinix Hot 11 to the government.
Adebowale, a car dealer from Akure, Ondo State was sentenced to nine months in prison without an option of fine.
The court ordered the final forfeiture of his iPhone 13 Pro Max, Tecno Spark 10, and ₦500,000, being proceeds of unlawful activity.
At the Kwara State High Court, Justice Haleema Saleeman convicted and sentenced Oluwatobi to six months imprisonment or a fine of ₦250,000, and ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 14 Pro Max and $370.
Opeyemi got three months sentence or a fine of ₦100,000, while $300 recovered from him was also forfeited to the federal government.
The judge warned another suspect, Jamiu against further involvement in cybercrime, and ordered the forfeiture of his Tecno Pop 8.
In a separate judgment, Justice Suleiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court sentenced Kolade to a two-year suspended sentence or a fine of ₦400,000, and additionally ordered him to clean the premises of the Kwara State High Court for three months.
His Infinix Smart 8 phone was also forfeited to the government.
The convicts were prosecuted by EFCC counsel including Innocent Imbachie, Aliyu Adebayo, Mustapha Kaigama, and Omolade Ajibola.
During proceedings, the prosecution presented witnesses, tendered the defendants’ confessional statements, devices used in committing the crimes, and evidence of funds recovered, all of which were admitted by the courts.
