Courts jail Four in Calabar and Uyo for Cybercrime and Internet Fraud

Four individuals involved in internet fraud have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by two separate courts in Calabar and Uyo.

Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and M.A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sentenced the fraudsters after they pleaded guilty to offences related to cybercrime and fraud.

The convicted individuals are: Abasiama Edet Ukana, Oko John Inya, Chidiebere Favour Onwukwu, and Onyekachi Elisha Madubuike. The cases, handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involved crimes such as criminal impersonation, identity theft, and obtaining funds under false pretences through the internet.

In Uyo, Abasiama Edet Ukana and Oko John Inya were arraigned on charges of cybercrime, including criminal impersonation with intent to defraud. Ukana, using the alias “Lucas Pace”, was found to have received $100 as part of a fraudulent scheme. He was sentenced to three months in jail for each of the two charges against him, with an option of a fine of ₦100,000 for each count. Additionally, Ukana’s iPhone 13, used in the commission of the crime, was ordered to be forfeited to the Nigerian government. He was also ordered to restitute the $100 he received from his victim.

Inya, who impersonated a woman named “Sarah Wesley” on Facebook to defraud a victim, was discharged and cautioned by the court. His Infinix Smart 5 mobile phone was forfeited to the government, but he was not sentenced to prison due to his remorse and status as an unemployed graduate.

Meanwhile, in Calabar, Chidiebere Favour Onwukwu and Onyekachi Elisha Madubuike were convicted of criminal impersonation and identity theft in connection with internet fraud. Onwukwu, using the alias “Chest Dutch”, had fraudulently obtained $200, while Madubuike, under the name “AXEL SHIV”, was found to have received $300. Both pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Justice Ojukwu sentenced Onwukwu and Madubuike to six months imprisonment each, with an option of a fine of ₦500,000 each. They were also ordered to restitute the amounts they fraudulently obtained — $200 from Onwukwu and $300 from Madubuike — to their respective victims. Furthermore, all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes were ordered to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

These convictions send a clear message about Nigeria’s commitment to tackling internet fraud and cybercrime. The EFCC continues to monitor and pursue individuals engaged in illegal online activities, emphasising that cybercrime undermines the country’s financial integrity and economy.

The successful prosecution of these four individuals reflects the growing efforts by Nigerian authorities to clamp down on internet fraud, especially as such crimes have become more prevalent in recent years. The forfeiture of mobile phones and restitution to victims are part of broader efforts to hold offenders accountable for their actions and provide justice to those they have defrauded.

As the EFCC intensifies its fight against cybercrime, these convictions serve as a reminder to internet fraudsters that the law will catch up with them, and that justice will be served.