BENIN CITY, Nigeria — A 24-year-old internet fraudster, Louis Osadolor, sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Federal High Court on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, for impersonating a Brazilian woman.
Prosecuted by the Benin zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Osadolor had assumed the identity of Jucastrotrradefit, a Brazilian woman and Bitcoin trader, intending to defraud his victims, the anti-graft agency disclosed in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Four Internet Fraudsters Jailed in Benin
Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, convicted and sentenced 22-year-old Prince Belebi Koko and three others to jail for internet fraud.
The others are Igwe Favour, 22, Destiny… pic.twitter.com/1QjHDBENII
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) July 18, 2023
“The convict, in April, disguised as Jucastrotrradefit and sent documents via the internet to Eliane Cruz, claiming they emanated from the Brazilian woman in an attempt to defraud her,” the EFCC said. This offense, they noted, contravenes Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act 2015 and is punishable under Section 22(2) (b) (IV) of the same Act.
In a separate case, a State High Court in Edo State handed down three-year sentences to two more internet fraudsters on Friday, July 14, 2023.
Wisdom Osazuwa, 18, and Oyegun Godwin, a student, were prosecuted by the EFCC’s Benin zonal command for possessing fraudulent documents, following an investigation into their involvement in internet fraud.
According to the commission, Mr. Godwin confessed to having initiated cryptocurrency fraud in 2022, and admitted to impersonating multiple individuals online.
The duo pleaded guilty to their respective charges, leading the prosecution counsel, Salihu Ahmed, to request the court for their conviction and sentencing.
Justice M. Itsueli complied, sentencing Messrs Osazuwa and Oyegun to three years imprisonment each, alongside a fine of N200,000 apiece.
These recent convictions highlight Nigeria’s continuing crackdown on internet fraud, showcasing its determination to uphold its digital landscape’s integrity.
With a surge in cybercrime in recent years, these sentences are a strong message to would-be fraudsters contemplating similar nefarious activities.
Mompha EFCC Trial: Access Bank Insider Sheds Light on Alleged N6 Billion Money Laundering Plot
The trial of social media celebrity Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as ‘Mompha‘, who is accused of laundering N6 billion, continued on Monday, July 3, 2023, with a compliance officer from Access Bank Plc., Elijah Adegboye, giving his testimony.
Notably, Mustapha was absent from the proceedings.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is leading the prosecution, and its counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, examined Adegboye.
The witness revealed that Access Bank received a letter from the EFCC as part of the investigation into the alleged money laundering.
According to Adegboye, the bank complied with the EFCC’s request by providing the necessary documents.
The compliance officer confirmed the accuracy of the bank’s response to the EFCC, which included a bundle of documents containing the statement of account of Naptown Records.
Adegboye asserted that the entries in the statement of account matched the information contained in the bank’s database.
He also confirmed that the documents were produced in the normal course of business and that the computer and printer used to generate the documents were functional.
Following this, the EFCC counsel sought to admit the bundle of documents as evidence.
Justice Mojisola Dada accepted the documents into evidence as the defense counsel, Mr. Kolawole Salami, raised no objections.
During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Adegboye affirmed that he is a compliance officer at Access Bank with over a decade of experience.
He further stated that Access Bank conducts lawful business and is a lawful corporate organization.
It is important to note that the court had previously ordered the commencement of the trial of Mompha in absentia on September 21, 2022, after he failed to make an appearance.
The EFCC had arranged Mustapha and his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts of money laundering on January 22, 2023.
A bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest was issued on June 22, 2023, after he was absent from court.
His bail was also revoked.
The EFCC accused Mompha of violating the court’s order by traveling to Dubai with a new international passport on June 10, 2023.
The charges against him include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, laundering of money obtained through unlawful actions, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretenses, and failure to disclose assets.
The case has been adjourned until September 18, 2023, to continue the trial.
