Justice A.A
Isiaka of the Kaduna State High court, Kaduna has convicted and sentenced three
persons into various jail terms for internet- related fraud.
The convicts
are, Ogochukwu Mitchel Emmanuel Ijeh, Mohammed Kabir Bello and Sunday
Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold).
They were
jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges upon their
arraignment by the Kaduna State Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge
against ijeh reads: “that you, Ogochukwu Mitchel Emmanuel Ijeh
(a.k.a Dave Brandon) Male, sometimes in July, 2023 in Kaduna within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable court falsely presented yourself as Dave
Brandon a Medical Doctor working at the United Nations Military Base on
Facebook (an online social media application) to one Andrea Kadur and in such
assumed character claimed to be in a romantic relationship with her and you
thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(2) of
the Kaduna State Law.”
The charge
against Bello reads: “that you Mohammed Kabir Bello, Male,
sometimes in December, 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court
fraudulently induced one Rashida Salman to deliver to you goods worth the sum
of N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) only by sending her a fake bank transaction
debit alert, and thereby committed an offence of cheating, an offence contrary
to Section 306 (a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable
under Section 307 of the same Law.”
The charge
against Simon reads: “that you Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold),
Male, sometimes in April 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, impersonated one Ryan Eggold (an American actor) on Facebook
(an online social media application) and in such assumed character cheated
Garri Kalish a citizen of United States of America of the sum of $800 (Eight
Hundred United States dollars) when you claimed to be in a romantic
relationship with her and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309
of the same Law.”
All the
convicts pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them.
Based on their
pleas, prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade prayed the court to convict and
sentence them accordingly.
Thereafter,
Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Ijeh, Simon and Bello to two years
imprisonment each respectively. While Ijeh and Simon were given an option
of fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, Bello was
given an option of fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only.
The convicts bagged their imprisonment for various internet-related offences ranging from impersonation, possession of scam documents and paying for goods with a fake credit alert.
