A Lagos court has sentenced Nonso Joseph Ekeocha to one year in prison for possessing fraudulent documents related to a romance scam. Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja announced the verdict on Tuesday, following Ekeocha’s guilty plea to a one-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charge indicated that Ekeocha was found with an Instagram account where he falsely identified himself as “Ronald Gregory,” along with other documents used in an online dating scam. He was arrested on June 29, 2024, during an operation targeting individuals engaged in computer-related fraud.
Upon his arrest, authorities recovered an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a Samsung S-10, which were later examined through forensic analysis. This examination revealed fraudulent documents connecting Ekeocha to the scam, where he allegedly sent romantic messages to unsuspecting individuals and solicited financial help.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by counsel I. G. Akhanolu, presented Ekeocha’s extrajudicial statement and the fraudulent documents as evidence, both of which were accepted by Justice Fadipe.
In a plea for leniency, Ekeocha requested the court to “temper justice with mercy,” vowing to avoid future fraudulent activities. Ultimately, the court sentenced him to one year in prison, with the option to pay a fine of N500,000. He is also required to complete 50 hours of community service.
Additionally, Justice Fadipe ordered the forfeiture of the seized iPhone and Samsung phone to the Federal Government of Nigeria, underscoring the seriousness of the offenses committed.