The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Uyo Zonal Directorate, secured the conviction of an internet fraudster, Ogagarojo Godstime, also known as Alex Gonzalex, before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State.
According to a statement by the EFCC on Thursday, Godstime was arraigned on Monday, May 12, 2025, on a two-count charge bordering on cyber-related criminal impersonation.
One of the charges read, “That you, Ogagarojo Godstime (aka Alex Gonzalex) ‘M’ sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently present yourself as Marc Labelle on the social media with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did take possession of the aggregate sum of Four Hundred United States Dollars ($400) knowing that the money form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; cyber impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The statement added that Godstime pleaded guilty to the charges. Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, urged the court to convict and sentence him. Mahmud also informed the court that the convict had refunded the sum of $400 to the EFCC and requested that the iPhone 11 used in committing the offence be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
After hearing the prosecution, Justice Ojukwu sentenced Godstime to 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, or a fine of N800,000. The court also granted the forfeiture of the iPhone 11 to the Federal Government.
In a related development, the Commission arraigned three suspected internet fraudsters and one alleged illegal foreign currency dealer before Justice Sergius Onah of the Federal High Court, Uyo, on the same day.
Those arraigned include Inemesit Asuquo Bassey, Franklin Edet Eyo, Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo, and Kassim Mohammed, who was charged with operating a Bureau de Change business without a valid licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
At the time of his arrest on May 17, 2024, in Aba, Abia State, Mohammed was found with multiple foreign currencies including United States Dollars, Philippines Dalawampung Piso, Japanese Yen, Swaziland Emalangeni, Gambian Dalasi, and Chinese Yuan.
The charge against him read, “That you, Kassim Muhammed ‘M’ sometime in May, 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a company duly incorporated in Nigeria and without a valid license granted to you by the Central Bank of Nigeria, did conduct business of other financial institutions to wit: Bureau de Change and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5)(b) of the same Act.”
Mohammed pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecution counsel, Barrister Joshua Abolarin, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, and requested the forfeiture of the seized currencies to the Federal Government.
“My Lord, may I apply that the defendant be convicted as charged due to his plea and the facts presented before this Honourable Court. Also, that the currencies tendered as exhibits be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Abolarin said.
The defence counsel, Chigozie Ogunji, did not object to the request. Justice Onah adjourned the case for judgment and ordered that Mohammed be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Uyo.
Similarly, Inemesit Asuquo Bassey pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal impersonation and defrauding a Hungarian national, Joy Thompson, of €150 using fake social media accounts.
One of the charges read, “That you, Asuquo Enemesit Bassey ‘M’ sometime in 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession and control of €150 (One Hundred and Fifty Euros) intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Justice Onah adjourned judgment in Bassey’s case to May 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, Franklin Edet and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo pleaded not guilty to two-count and three-count charges respectively, all bordering on internet fraud. The court fixed June 2, 2025, for the commencement of Edet’s trial and May 15, 2025, for the consideration of bail for Ahiahwo.
All the defendants were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
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