Fourteen internet fraudsters have been sentenced to various jail terms by Federal High Courts sitting in Kano and Maiduguri for crimes including cybercrime, impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime, and money laundering.
The convicts, Michael Yakubu, Udo Promise Jonah, Promise Isah Ibrahim, Samuel Odeh, Abdulsamad Muhammad, Agboeze Chibueke Ernest, Ochuba Chigozie, Abu David Eleojo, David Aaron, Chidi Destiny Chidiebere, Collins Noel, and Ola Ajibola, were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kano. Meanwhile, Samuel Okoro and Lucky Dauda were jailed in Maiduguri.
In Kano, Justice S.M. Shuaibu sentenced the convicts after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge. The charge against Yakubu stated:
“That you, Michael Yakubu (a.k.a Beksolk_official), sometime in April 2025 in Nasarawa State, fraudulently impersonated one Beksolk_Official (a United States citizen) on Instagram and, in such assumed character, obtained $300 from unsuspecting victims, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Etc Act, 2015, and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
The charge against Chigozie stated:
“That you, Ochuba Chigozie, sometime in April 2025 in Tammah, Nasarawa State, retained $200, which you knew formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel M. Lawal and M.U. Gadaka urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsel pleaded for leniency, stating the defendants were remorseful.
Justice Shuaibu sentenced Chigozie and Eleojo to five years imprisonment each or a fine of N500,000. Both forfeited items, including $200, an Infinix X68IIB mobile phone, and an iPhone 14 Promax.
Other convicts received sentences ranging from two to five years, with options of fines between N300,000 and N500,000. They also forfeited various items to the federal government, including smartphones, laptops, and amounts in dollars.
In Maiduguri, Justice K. Dagat sentenced Okoro and Dauda to eight years’ imprisonment each on two counts, with an option of N100,000 fine per count. Both forfeited funds and devices, including an iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy phones.
The convicts’ journey to jail began after credible intelligence exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Nasarawa, Niger, and Maiduguri. All forfeitures are to the federal government.
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