Two internet fraudsters have been convicted of cyber fraud and identity theft by Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The EFCC charged the two convicts, Onyeanu Chukwuemeka David and Anthony Anyadiora Obumneme, with one count each.
Onyeanu, who was born in Imo and lived in Ilorin, was a POS operator who specialized in stealing the identities of unsuspecting victims in order to commit fraud via the internet.
Anthony was one of 30 ‘Yahoo Boys’ apprehended on September 19, 2021 by EFCC operatives during a sting operation at Kwara State University, KWASU, Malete.
The two defendants pleaded guilty as charged during their arraignment today.
Sesan Ola and Rashidat Alao, who prosecuted for the Commission, brought the Court’s attention to the defendants’ plea deal.
They urged the Court to consider the extra-judicial statements of the defendants and exhibits tendered as well as the provisions of the law to convict the defendants.
Justice Sani in his judgment said the Court had carefully considered the plea of the defendants, their statements and plea bargain agreements.
He held that the defendants were guilty of their respective charge. The judge sentenced Anthony to one year imprisonment with N200, 000 option of fine.
The Court also ordered that he forfeit to the government $150 and iPhone 11.
Similarly, Justice Sani sentenced Onyeanu to six months imprisonment with N300,000 option of fine.
According to the judge, the convict will forfeit to the Federal Government, $300 which he benefited from the criminal activity and iPhone 12 Pro used to perpetrate the crime.
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