Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced one Efosa Desmond to two years imprisonment for fraudulent impersonation.
Desmond was arraigned on one count charge by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The defendant had sometime in February 2021 impersonated the identities of James Riches and Jeffery Owen with the intent to defraud one Susan Roggenbuck in contravention of Section 22(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under same Act.
The charge against Desmond reads: “That you, Efosa Desmond (a.k.a James Riches, and Jeffery Owen) on or about the 4th day of February, 2021 at Abuja Quarter, Benin City, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one James Riches and Jeffery Owen ( both white men) by using Email address [email protected] with intent to obtain money from one Susan Roggenbuck, the pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(2)(b)(i)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, A.A. Ozigbo, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. However, counsel to the defendant, M.E. Okon-Ime, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Abang convicted and sentenced Desmond to two years imprisonment without an option of a fine.
The Judge also ruled that items recovered from him during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, the Benin Command secured the conviction of one Marvis Ewemade Etinosa on a count charge of fraudulent impersonation before Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
The Etinosa had sometime in February 2021 impersonated one Williams, a Chinese medical doctor with the intent to defraud, contrary to section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48, Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As applicable in Edo State) 1976 and punishable under the same Law.
The charge reads: “That you, Malvis Ewemade Etinosa (M) sometime in February, 2021 at Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be one Williams, a Chinese medical doctor and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As applicable in Edo State) 1976.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. prompting the prosecution counsel, Onyeka Ekweozor, to pray for the court to convict and sentence him.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Etonosa to three years imprisonment with an option of N300,000.
The Judge also ruled that items recovered from him during the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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