The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of 10 individuals for various internet-related offences, including impersonation and employment fraud, following recent crackdowns.
The EFCC disclosed the information in a statement shared on X.com on Friday, revealing the defendants were sentenced to various jail terms with options for fines after pleading guilty.
The convicted individuals were identified as Emmanuel Cyriacus, Nelson Yustus, Gabriel Victor Shindu, Daniel Gambo, Miracle Bukar, Mighty Awarri, Jonathan James, Mathias Adams, Sani Safiyanu, and Muazu Shira Mutari.
According to the EFCC, the convictions were handed down in separate court sittings in Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, and Bauchi States.
In one case, Nelson Yustus was accused of defrauding a foreign national of $150 by impersonating a U.S. citizen named Jake from Philadelphia using the Zangi private messenger app.
Another defendant, Sani Safiyanu, was found guilty of possessing false employment documents linked to several government agencies, including the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The EFCC’s statement read, “Shindu, Awarri, Gambo, Bukar, Adams, Yustus, Cyriacus, and James were arraigned on October 16, 2024, before Justices Hammed Isha and Benjamin M. Lawal of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State.
Safiyanu was arraigned on October 14, 2024, before Justice Mushkur Salisu of the Federal High Court, Jalingo, Taraba State, while Mutari was arraigned on October 8, 2024, in the Bauchi State High Court.”
The sentences ranged from two to ten years of imprisonment, with options of fines. Justice Hammed Isha sentenced Shindu, Awarri, Bukar, and Gambo to 10 years in prison or a fine of N300,000 each, while Justice Lawal handed down 10-year sentences to Yustus, James, and Cyriacus, offering them the option of a N200,000 fine each. Mathias Adams was sentenced to five years in prison or a N200,000 fine.
For Safiyanu, Justice Salisu sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 for the first count, and one year in prison or a fine of N50,000 for the second count, with the sentences running concurrently.
Justice Abubakar sentenced Muazu Shira Mutari to two years in prison or a N200,000 fine.
The EFCC noted, “The counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to show leniency, stating that the defendants had expressed remorse for their actions.” The commission reiterated its commitment to curbing internet fraud and related crimes across the country.
