Serial impersonator nabbed for $500 USD scam in Kaduna

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal command, has arraigned one Ebere Steven Dike before Justice Darius Khobo on a two-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

Count one of the charges reads: “that you, Ebere Steven Dike on or about the 10th of October, 2022 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jason Momoa, an actor of the United States of America on Instagram, obtained gift cards worth the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) from Jennifer Philip for a romantic relationship and you thereby committed Cheating by Impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law, 2017 of Kaduna State and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his not-guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, asked for a date for the commencement trial to enable him to bring his witnesses to court. But the defence counsel, J. O Balogun prayed the court to grant his client bail. Justice Darius granted bail to the defendant in the sum of Two Million Naira and one surety in like sum. The surety must be resident in Kaduna and own property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy.

The case has been adjourned till July 11, 2023, for commencement of trial.

Ebere troubles started when operatives of the Commission, acting on intelligence, arrested him in the Barnawa area of Kaduna.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that he impersonated Jason Momoa, an American actor, by creating fake Instagram and Facebook pages which he used to chat with and defraud his victims. He had benefited more than $500 USD before he was nabbed.