The Federal High Court, Enugu Division, has sentenced 12 students to two years in prison each for duping unsuspecting foreign nationals via Internet fraud.
The 12 convicts were sentenced by Justice I.M Buba, the trial judge, on 6 July on a separate one-count charge bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences, according to a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, Head of the Media and Publicity Department of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts are Izuchukwu Chukwuemeka Goodness, Okechukwu Ifeanyichukwu, Nwabueze Ifeanyi, Egbo Chijioke Gerrard, Ekene Oputa and Iloegbunam Justine.
Others are Edeh Chukwuebuka Michael, Edeh Izuchukwu Dominic, Iloegbunam Paschal Onyeka, Ogu Chukwuebuka Kingsley, Mbanugo Ifeanyi and Edeh Emmanuel.
The charge preferred against one of the defendants read: “That you Mbanugo Ifeanyi on or about the 10th Day of March 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated on Ornale Sylvestermanda and Venita, through a fake Telegram account, with intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3) (a)(b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention , Etc) Act,2015 and punishable under section 22 (4) of the same Act.”
The students pleaded guilty to the separate one-count charge.
Justice Buba convicted and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each with an option of a N1 million fine each.
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