The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Command on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 secured the conviction of one Joseph Victor Ndubuka before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna, on a one count amended charge bordering on impersonation.
Victor was arrested by military personnel along with one other on suspicion of involvement in internet fraud activities and handed over to EFCC for further investigation.
Investigation revealed that he operated a Telegram account where he posed as a white gay to lure victims into romantic relationships as pretext to defraud them. He benefitted to the tune of N1, 000,000.00.
The one count amended charge reads: “that you, Joseph Victor Ndubuka(aka Joonk) sometime in March, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as Joonak (a citizen of the United States of America) which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Justice Darius convicted and sentenced Joseph to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.00(Two Hundred Thousand Naira),
He is to also forfeit an iPhone 14 Pro Max and one Redmi Note 10 phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Darius Khobo also convicted and sentenced the duo of Sabastine Yohanna and John Joseph Ojima to two years imprisonment on separate one count charges bordering on cybercrime.
The convicts were arrested by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Kakuri and Trikania axes of Kaduna, based on intelligence on their alleged internet fraud-related activities.
Upon investigation, Sabastine confessed to investment and bitcoins fraud, and identity theft, including using the names of celebrities such as actors Jason Momoa, David Borenaz, and Johnny Depp to chat and defraud unsuspecting victims.
In the case of John, he opened a Facebook account with the name, Sean Ambriz Tobias and use same to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The charge against Sabastine reads: “that you, Sabastine Yohana Mamman sometime in May, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as one Jack Daniel (a white man) on Facebook and in that assumed character cheated one Alyson Hodgins the sum of $520.00(Five Hundred and Twenty USD) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017”.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.
Justice Darius, convicted and sentenced Sabastine to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand Naira), He is to also forfeit an Apple iPhone 13 Pro.
He has restituted the sum of $320 to the victim through EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command, and shall also restitute the remaining the sum of $200 to the victim through the EFCC.
John bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). He was also ordered to forfeit an iPhone 12 and the sum of $400 US Dollars.
