Court jails six internet fraudsters in Calabar

Six Internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to varied terms of jail by Justices Ijeoma Ojukwu and Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the convicts: Ojiako David Enyinna, Heziekiah Ezekiel Eno, Onyedika Ugochukwu Enemchukwu, Adinkwu Destiny Chukwudifu, God’s Favour Bassey Essi, and Ebenezer Emmanuel Peter were imprisoned.
They were convicted after pleading guilty to various offences including obtaining by deception and criminal impersonation.

While Enemchukwu and Peter were charged with two counts each, Enyinna, Eno, Chukwudifu, and Essi were charged with one count each of obtaining by false pretence and criminal impersonation.

pretence and criminal impersonation.

They all pleaded guilty when the separate charges were read to them.

In view of their pleas, prosecuting counsel; S. S. Aribido and J.E.I Ogbuli prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

However, defence counsel: Daniel G. Daniel, Koko Essien, Innocent Eze and Francis Ezike prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Oghoghorie sentenced Peter to one year imprisonment on each of the two count charge, to run concurrently, or pay a fine of N500,000.00( Five Hundred Thousand Naira only). Chukwudifu and Essi bagged one year imprisonment each with the option of a fine of N500,000.00.

Enemchukwu, Enyinna and Eno were convicted and sentenced by Justice Ojukwu as follows: Enemchukwu: 6 months imprisonment on each count to run concurrently, with an option of fine of N500,000.00; Enyinna and Eno: 6 months imprisonment each with the option of fine of N500,000.00 and N200,000.00 ( Two Hundred Thousand Naira) respectively.

Enemchukwu and Peter were ordered to pay the sums of $400 and $200 respectively in restitution to their victims, through the Commission. While all items used in committing the crimes were forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.