The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Kaduna Zonal Command has achieved a significant milestone with the conviction of Philemon Moses Cobons (aka Greg Young), Blessed Zugwai Adamu (aka James Smith), and Adajinewa Anaiah (aka Goddes Lex) before Justice A.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court.
The charges against them pertain to cybercrime, and their arrest took place at different locations within the Kaduna metropolis.
The investigation conducted by the EFCC revealed that the trio used various false identities to entice unsuspecting individuals into fictitious online relationships, with the ultimate goal of defrauding them.
Philemon Moses Cobons faced the charge, “That you, Philemon Moses Cobons (aka Greg Young), sometime in July 2023, at Mando axis of Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently Impersonated one Greg Young (a white man) via an Instagram account and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”
Adajinewa Anaiah was accused of, “Sometime in July 2023, within the judicial division of the High Court, with intent to defraud, you falsely presented yourself as one Goddes Lex, a white American citizen, and in such an assumed character cheated one Edison Hair Nunez of the sum of $300 Dollars through your Instagram (a social media platform), claiming to be in a romantic relationship, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under the same Law.”
The charge against Blessed Adamu reads, “That you, Blessed Adamu (aka James Smith), male, sometime in June 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one James Smith (a military personnel) on Instagram (an online social media application) and in such an assumed character cheated one Crystal Sartain, a citizen of the United States of America, of the sum of $200 Dollars (Two Hundred United States Dollars) when you claimed to be in a romantic relationship with her, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
The defendants admitted guilt to the charges brought against them. The prosecuting counsel, E.K Garba, and M.U Gadaka urged the court to deliver appropriate convictions.
Justice Isiaka handed down sentences of two years imprisonment to Adamu and Anaiah, while Cobons received a three-year prison term. Additionally, each defendant was given the option to pay a fine of N150,000. Furthermore, all the proceeds of their crimes will be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The verdict marks a significant victory in the fight against internet fraud, sending a strong message that such criminal activities will not go unpunished.
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