The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, secured the conviction of 10 internet fraudsters, better known as “Yahoo Boys” before Justice H. Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama Abuja.
EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday evening.
Uwujaren gave the names of the defendants as Dominic Likwa, Wisdom Ndubuisi, Sheidu Abdulqudus, Samson Chukwudi Ohanwe, and Mohammed Kamal. Others are Abdulsamad Yusuf, Okoebor Chavis Odianosen, Tochukwu Ezema Trust, Chinedu Chukwuma and Timothy Oluwafemi.
They pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The charge brought against Chinedu reads, “that you, Chinedu Chukwuma sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation when you created an Instagram account pretending to be James Yemel, a United States of America military officer serving in Afghanistan a fact you knew to be false and in that assumed character obtained the sum of $1,693 US Dollars ( One Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety-three Dollars) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Law”.
Given their pleas, Justice Muazu convicted and sentenced Sheidu, Ohanwe, Kamal, Yusuf, Okoebor, and Chinedu to 12 months in prison or a fine of N200,000 each. Tochukwu and Oluwafemi both bagged 9 months jail term or a fine of N100,000 each, while Likwa is to spend 9 months in jail or pay a fine of N50,000.
In addition, the convicts are to swear to an affidavit to be of good behaviour.
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the newly appointed National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje has said he will hit the ground running so that the party will emerge victorious in the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States.