The Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentencing of an internet fraudster, Ogagarojo Godstime, also known as Alex Gonzalex, before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, Cross River State. The conviction was handed down on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Godstime was prosecuted on two counts of criminal impersonation in cyberspace.
According to the EFCC, he fraudulently presented himself as Marc Labelle on social media in 2024, with the intent to gain financial advantage.
He took possession of $400, knowing that the sum was part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, cyber impersonation.
His actions contravened Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.
Upon pleading guilty to the charges, the prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmud, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Mahmud also informed the court that Godstime had restituted the $400 to the Commission and requested the forfeiture of his iPhone 11 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Ojukwu sentenced Godstime to 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, with an option of an N800,000 fine.
Additionally, the iPhone 11 used in committing the crime was forfeited to the Federal Government.
In a related development, the EFCC arraigned three suspected internet fraudsters and one unlicensed foreign currency dealer before Justice Sergius Onah of the Federal High Court, Uyo, on the same day.
The suspects, identified as Inemesit Asuquo Bassey, Franklin Edet Eyo, and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo, were charged with internet fraud, while Kassim Mohammed, the alleged foreign currency dealer, faced charges for conducting a Bureau de Change business without the required Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) license.
Mohammed, who was apprehended with various currencies, including United States Dollars, Philippine Pesos, Japanese Yen, Swazi Emalangeni, Gambian Dalasis, and Chinese Yuan pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Barrister Joshua Abolarin, requested his conviction and the forfeiture of the currencies to the Federal Government.
Justice Onah adjourned the matter for judgment, remanding Mohammed at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Uyo.
Asuquo Bassey also pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal impersonation and defrauding a Hungarian citizen, Joy Thompson, of €150 using fake social media profiles. Justice Onah suspended judgment to May 22, 2025.
Meanwhile, Franklin Edet Eyo and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo entered not-guilty pleas to two and three counts of internet fraud, respectively. The court adjourned Edet’s trial to June 2, 2025, while Patrick’s bail hearing is scheduled for May 15, 2025. Both were remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
In another development, EFCC, on Wednesday May 14, 2025, arrested 28 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations in Benin City.
The suspects were arrested following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Items recovered from them include five exotic cars, smartphones and laptop computers.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
