Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court , Calabar, Cross River State, today, sentenced seven internet fraudsters to six months jail term each with option of fine.
The new convicts are: Victor Ekwonwa, Chukwudi Iwueke, Mbam Alexander, Ugorji Emmanuel, Joseph Ekwere Tom, Eze Daniel, and David Okeke.
Their conviction was predicated upon their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining under pretence and money laundering.
The charge against Tom reads; “That you, Joseph Ekwere Tom, sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession and control of $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars), knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”
Earlier, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to them, and in view of their pleas, prosecuting counsel, Khamis Mahmud, prayed the court to convict them as charged.
Thereafter, Justice Ojukwu convicted and sentenced the convicts to six months jail term each.
Six of the convicts were given the option to pay a fine of ₦1,000,000, except Mbam Alexander, who was given the option of a fine of ₦500,000.
The court also ordered Joseph Ekwere Tom and Chiwenikpe Ekwonwa to restitute the sums of $500 and $100 respectively into the EFCC’s Recovery Account.
The judge also ordered that all gadgets used in committing the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet crimes. They were charged to court and jailed.
