BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – In its sustained crackdown on cyber-criminals nationwide, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully prosecuted eight internet fraudsters at the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar.
Consequently, the Court convicted and sentenced the eight suspects to various prison terms for crimes ranging from criminal impersonation and money laundering to love scams and possession of fraudulent documents.
Presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the Court delivered the judgment on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 against the convicts namely Azubuike Chibuike Victor, Israel David John, Chimela Chidiebere, and Okonkwo Chidiebere.
Others are Odenigbo Victor Chika, Prosper Emeka Chinonso, Victor Etim Afaha, and Dennis Ategwu Adah.
In prosecuting the case, the anti-corruption Commission tailored the charges to the specific offences of each individual suspects who all pleaded guilty before the court.
A statement by the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said one of the charges, against Prosper Emeka Chinonso, read thus: “That you, Prosper Emeka Chinonso ‘M’ sometime in 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did fraudulently impersonate Williams, a Filipino, on TikTok with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act 2015 and punishable under the same Section.”
Against Odenigbo Victor Chika, the charge read: “That you, Odenigbo Victor Chika ‘M’ sometime in 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did take possession and control of 32,000 Taiwan Dollars (TWD), intentionally 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 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Following their guilty pleas, EFCC counsel Kharmis Mahmud urged the Court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
However, the defence counsels C.N. Nweke Jnr., A.O. Adebayo, Ituen Ukpono, Nyebuk Johnson, and Arene Otega, pleaded for leniency on behalf of their clients.
After considering the submissions made by both sides, Justice Ojukwu sentenced Azubuike Chibuike Victor, Chimela Chidiebere, Okonkwo Chidiebere, Odenigbo Victor Chika, Prosper Emeka Chinonso, Victor Etim Afaha, and Dennis Ategwu Adah to six months imprisonment each, with the option of a ₦1,000,000 fine.
Israel David John received a three-month sentence on each count to run concurrently, also with an option of a ₦1,000,000 fine.
The Court further ordered that Dennis Ategwu and Victor Etim Afaha restitute the sums of $300 and €100 respectively to their victims.
But on account of inability to locate the victims, the Court ordered the said sums be paid into the EFCC’s Proceeds of Crime Account on behalf of the Federal Government.
Additionally, mobile phones recovered from the convicts were ordered forfeited, to be auctioned with proceeds paid into the Proceeds of Crime Account.
According to the statement, operatives of the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal Directorate arrested the fraudsters between January and June 2025 at various locations across Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.
They were charged, prosecuted, and ultimately convicted as part of the Anti-graft agency’s crackdown on cyber-criminals and money launderers across the country.
