Court sentences Internet fraudster to one-year imprisonment in P’Harcourt

Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster; Kelvin Ifeanyi to a one-year jail term in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

He was jailed on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, upon being arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The count charge read: “That you, Kelvin Ifeanyi on or about the 21st day of July 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $2,400 (Two Thousand Four Hundred Dollars) Worth of Bitcoin Currency from one John Dubhthaigh a foreign national under the pretence that you are a Crypto Trader which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

He pleaded guilty to the one-count charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, E.K. Bakam, tendered some documents to establish his case and prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.

Counsel to the defendant, E. D. Ani prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that the “defendant is a first-time offender with no previous criminal records”.

Justice Ajoku, found the defendant guilty, convicted and sentenced him to one year in the Correctional Service with One Hundred Thousand Naira as an option of fine (N100,000) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The court also ordered that the iPhone 11 Promax and one Redmi mobile device recovered from the convict should be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The sum of Two Thousand, Four Hundred United States Dollars ($2,400) recovered from the convict should also be forfeited and returned to the victim, John Dubhthaigh, a foreigner.

The judge also ordered the convict to depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.

Ifeanyi started his journey to the Correctional Service when he was arrested by operatives of the Commission, alongside his syndicate members for internet-related crimes.  He was charged to court and convicted.