Four individuals, Anthony Chukwu, Madaki Ismail, Samson Aliyu, and Christopher Israel, have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms for internet fraud by both the Federal High Court and State High Court in Kaduna.
This development was disclosed in a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), obtained on Wednesday.
According to the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command, the four were prosecuted on separate charges, each involving one count of impersonation, obtaining money by pretense, and money laundering.
These charges were brought under Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017, with penalties prescribed under Section 309 of the same law.
The charge against Chukwu detailed that he, using the alias Carmelita Luna, acquired N520,000 from Nelro Balmoria and other unsuspecting individuals in December 2023 by falsely presenting himself, knowing that these funds were proceeds from unlawful acts.
This constituted money laundering under the relevant sections of the law.
Aliyu’s charge stated that between January and May 2024, he impersonated John Dunwell, a white man and investment broker with AZ Finance Investment Company, and defrauded several individuals, including one named Lhes, of P2,000.00 Philippine pesos via Instagram.
This act was also deemed a violation of the Kaduna State Penal Code.
All defendants pleaded guilty to the charges read to them.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Matiyak and Argungu, urged the courts to convict and sentence the individuals accordingly.
Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court sentenced Chukwu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00, while Ismail received the same sentence with an alternative fine of N500,000.00.
Additionally, both were ordered to forfeit the proceeds of their crimes, amounting to N520,000.00 and $310 respectively, as well as the instruments used in their fraudulent activities, including an iPhone XR and a Samsung S21 mobile phone, to the Federal Government.
Justice Darius Khobo of the State High Court sentenced Aliyu to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000, and Israel to three years imprisonment or a fine of N250,000.
Aliyu was also required to forfeit $50, obtained through his fraudulent activities, to the Federal Government.
Both Aliyu and Israel forfeited their mobile phones, which were used in the commission of their crimes.
The arrests of Chukwu, Aliyu, and Israel were made in Kaduna, while Ismail was apprehended in Jos.
These arrests followed credible intelligence regarding their involvement in fraudulent internet activities.
