Justice Abdul Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State has, convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, better known as “Yahoo Boy“, Abah Stephen to two-year imprisonment for fraud.
‘Yahoo Boy’ Jailed For Romance Scam
The “Yahoo Boy” was convicted and sentenced on Monday, February 13, 2023, after he was arraigned on one count charge by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraudulent impersonation.
The charge reads: “That you, Abah Stephen, sometime in 2022, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by deceit pretended to be Johnscot, an American Military Doctor on a peacekeeping mission for the United Nations at Kabul, Afghanistan, by use of an email account – [email protected] induced and defrauded one Jana Bilkara Czech Republic Citizen who delivered to you the total sum of Three Thousand Euros, equivalent of N1,500,000.00, into your United Bank for Africa (UBA), Account No. 2115293731, in the guise of being in a romantic relationship with her and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act”.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Given his plea, the prosecution counsel, George Chai-Yakua prayed to the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly. However, the defence counsel, C. C. Egbokwe pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant is a first-time offender who has become remorseful for his action.
Justice Dogo convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment and a fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira.
The judge also ordered that the mobile phone recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) on Monday, announced the cancellation of the rally of its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The PDP PCC Chairman in Rivers State, Senator Lee Maeba disclosed this in a statement.