The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ikpaka to two years in prison for defrauding a U.S. citizen, Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson, of $53,000 by impersonating the Nigerian musician Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour N’abania.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered the sentence on Tuesday after Ikpaka pleaded guilty to a two-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the proceedings, EFCC prosecutor Suleiman Suleiman presented evidence from EFCC investigator Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, who testified that Ikpaka impersonated Flavour, claiming he would organize shows in the United States and receiving payments through his Bitcoin wallets.
Ekpar further explained that the EFCC uncovered the fraud after receiving a petition from Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and others on behalf of the victim.
“We invited Flavour who honoured the invitation and claimed innocence of the allegations. Upon investigation, we discovered that one Ipaka Courage who lives in Benin City was the perpetrator,” he said.
“We invited the defendant, and he admitted in his statement that he impersonated Flavour by obtaining the sum of $53,000 from a woman who is a United States Citizen in 2021.
“He wired the funds through Bitcoin wallets and converted them in his Access Bank account where he received the value in Naira.
“The sum of N7.9m Naira was recovered from the defendant through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.”
After the defendant pleaded guilty and the prosecution’s evidence was reviewed, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Courage Ikpaka to two years in prison, with the option of a ₦2 million fine. Additionally, the judge ordered the forfeiture of ₦7.9 million recovered from the convict to be returned to Mrs. Thompson.
The charges in Counts 1 and 2 read as follows:
“That you, IKPAKA COURAGE sometime in April 2021 in Lagos. within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly made a false statement wherein you held yourself out as a Nigerian entertainer by name “Chinedu Okoli a.k.a. Flavour N’abania” on your Telegram Account, knowing same to be false and with intent that the representation is relied upon for the purpose of procuring the issuance of financial instruments to yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc} Act, 2015.
“That you, IKPAKA COURAGE sometime in April 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly retained the sum of $53,000 in your Access Bank Pic account number 0108866415 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mrs Yvelte M. Thompson and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(G) and punishable under section 18 {3} of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”