A crackdown by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has led to conviction of 10 fraudsters who have also been sentenced to various jail terms and fines for internet-related offences.
This was disclosed in a statement and pictures shared on X.com by the EFCC on Friday.
The anti-graft agency stated in the statement that the suspects pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced to various jail terms for offences involving internet fraud, impersonation and employment fraud.
The names of the convicts include Emmanuel Cyriacus, Nelson Yustus, Gabriel Victor Shindu, Daniel Gambo, Miracle Bukar, Mighty Awarri, Jonathan James, Mathias Adams, Sani Safiyanu, and Muazu Shira Mutari.
“Shindu, Awarri, Gambo, Bukar, Adams, Yustus, Cyriacus, and James were arraigned on October 16, 2024, before Justices Hammed Isha and Benjamin M. Lawal of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State,” the statement read in part.
“Safiyanu was arraigned on October 14, 2024, on two counts charges of intent to defraud and possession of fraudulent document before Justice Mushkur Salisu of the Federal High Court Jalingo, Taraba State, while Muazu Shira Mutari was arraigned for intent to defraud on October 8, 2024, before Justice Muazu Abubakar of the Bauchi State High Court, Bauchi.”
The statement added that one of the charges read in court stated that Nelson Yustus, sometime in September 2024, using his iPhone 11 mobile device to chat on Zangi private messenger application, presenting himself as a US citizen named Jake from Philadelphia, defrauded a foreign national of $150.
One of the charges against Safiyanu reportedly read: “That you Sani Safiyanu, male, adult, sometime in 2022 at Taraba within the judicial division of this honourable court did have in your possession documents containing false pretence to wit: Appointment and Congratulatory messages telling people that, they got employment with; National Home Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Nigeria Police Force via your email addresses; Safiyanusani670@gmail.com, abusafiyanusanikarofi@gmail.com, nschoolfeedingprogram@gmail.com, nigerianinec5@gmail.com, forceheadquartersabuja2020@gmail.com, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The statement also disclosed that the convictions came with option of a fine after the counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy as their defendants were remorseful of their actions.
“Justice Isha convicted and sentenced Shindu, Awari, Bukar, and Gambo to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 each,” it added.
“Justice Lawal convicted and sentenced Yustus, James, and Cyriacus to 10 years imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine each. But Adam bagged five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.”
Justice Salisu reportedly convicted and sentenced Safiyanu to five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 on count one and one-year imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 on count two. The sentences are to run concurrently.
“Justice Abubakar convicted and sentenced Mutari to two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000.00,” the statement added.
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