Two convicted for Cybercrime, one for love scam

Etim Ekpimah

Justice E. Ekpe of the FCT High Court, Apo, today October 20, 2021, convicted and sentenced the duo of Ibrahim Ojonugwa (aka Maria Guadalpe) and Athnetus Ezeakunne (aka Angela Muller) to two months imprisonment each for attempting to commit cybercrime which runs contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Act Laws of the Federation (Abuja)1990.

They were convicted having pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Justice Ekpe however gave them the option of N200, 000 fine each and ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones to the Federal Government.

Investigations revealed that Ojonugwa, who posed as a woman from the Philippines, and Ezeakunne, who presented himself as a Belgian woman, were newly recruited members of a cybercrime syndicate that engaged in gift card, iTunes and Bitcoin fraud.

The duo used the Telegram messaging App to communicate with their victims.

Similarly, Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, today, October 20, 2021, sentenced one Mesheal Luka to six months imprisonment following his conviction on a two-count amended charge of cybercrime and other internet-related fraud brought against him by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The defendant variously posed as an American citizen and induced his victims to send him money while pretending to be in a romantic relationship with them.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mesheal Luka, (M) between January and August 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did pretend to be one Mesheal ( a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one Samuel of the sum of $100(One Hundred USD) when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

The second count amended charge reads: that you, Mesheal Luka, (M) between January and August 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did pretend to be one Jessica (a woman) based in America when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one  James Partridge of the sum of €30.00(Thirty Euros), when you claimed that you were in love with him and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.

He pleaded guilty to the amended charges when they were read to him.

In view of his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, M.A Jamil urged the court to convict him with the terms of a plea bargain agreement between the parties as to the judgment of the court.

However, the defence counsel, Usman Idris prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant has shown remorse and promised never to engage in any act of criminality again.

Justice Khobo consequently convicted and sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment and ordered him to restitute the sum of $50.00(Fifty dollars) to his victims: Samuel and James Partridge; American citizens through the United States Embassy, Nigeria.

The defendant is also to forfeit one Infinix smart 5 phone and the sum of N48,720.89 to the Federal Government.