Nigerian internet fraudster, Damisa Gideon (aka Captain Kim Lee) has been jailed for scamming a Chinese man Kim Soo Yeon and duping him N11 million.
He was convicted and jailed by Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
Gideon was arrested and arraigned by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge against Gideon reads. “That you, Damisa Gideon (aka Captain Kim Lee) sometime in May, 2020 at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Kim Lee of the US Army Air Force Base from California via your email, [email protected] and obtained the sum of Eleven Million Naira (N11,000,000.00) only, from one Kim Soo Yeon (A Chinese Citizen) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (iv) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced accordingly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Obiora said “from the totality of the evidence placed before the Court, the plea of guilt entered by the defendant as well as his statements where he confessed to the crime, the Court believes that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.”
The judge sentenced Gideon to one year imprisonment with option of fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only).
The convict is to forfeit his white-coloured Mercedes Benz GLK 350 with registration number ABJ 338 DB and VIN No. WDCG8HBP3AF357583 valued at N10 Million to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The said vehicle shall be sold through public auction by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the proceeds paid into the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Also, Justice Obiora convicted and sentenced a woman, Deborah Okiemute for offence bordering on personation.
The charge against Deborah reads: “That you, Deborah Okiemute, sometime in November 2020, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did by concealment retain the control of the sum of Four Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Naira (N471,000.00) only, in account No. 0102333502, domiciled in Access Bank Plc belonging to you, being the proceeds of a criminal conduct on behalf of one Nelson Irobo, knowing that the money is as a result of criminal conduct by the said Nelson Irobo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded ‘guilty’ and the judge sentenced Okiemute to three years imprisonment with an option of fine of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) Only.
