Ten individuals have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms and fines for internet-related offences following a crackdown by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement shared on X.com, the EFCC disclosed that the suspects pleaded guilty to charges involving internet fraud, impersonation, and employment fraud.
The convicts include Emmanuel Cyriacus, Nelson Yustus, Gabriel Victor Shindu, Daniel Gambo, Miracle Bukar, Mighty Awarri, Jonathan James, Mathias Adams, Sani Safiyanu, and Muazu Shira Mutari. They were arraigned in separate courts between October 8 and October 16, 2024.
One notable case involves Nelson Yustus, who, in September 2024, used his iPhone 11 on the Zangi private messenger app to impersonate a US citizen named Jake from Philadelphia, defrauding a foreign national of $150. Sani Safiyanu faced charges for possessing fraudulent documents claiming false employment offers from various government programs.
The convictions came with options for fines, as the defendants expressed remorse for their actions. Justice Isha sentenced Shindu, Awarri, Bukar, and Gambo to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 each. Justice Lawal imposed a similar sentence on Yustus, James, and Cyriacus, while Adams received a five-year sentence or a N200,000 fine.
Justice Salisu sentenced Safiyanu to five years or a fine of N200,000 on one count and one year or a fine of N50,000 on another, to run concurrently. Justice Abubakar sentenced Mutari to two years imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine.
