A Federal Excessive Court docket in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced Henry Nathaniel Ekanem, a final-year scholar on the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), to 14 years in jail for web fraud.
Justice A.T. Mohammed delivered the sentence on Wednesday, following Ekanem’s arraignment by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate.
The scholar was sentenced on seven expenses of acquiring cash beneath false pretences and impersonation.
In response to court docket information, Ekanem had defrauded victims by impersonating Coran Capsha, a supervisor of American singer Chris Stapleton, to solicit funds on-line.
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One cost in opposition to him highlighted that on September 17, 2024, he obtained $22 from Diana Roskov by misrepresenting his identification on social media platforms, together with WhatsApp and Instagram.
Upon studying the fees, Ekanem pleaded responsible.
The prosecution, led by counsel A. Abubakar, offered proof, together with witness testimonies and paperwork, which had been accepted as reveals.
The defence counsel, F.T. Fred-Boufini, pleaded for leniency, noting Ekanem’s standing as a first-time offender with no prior felony historical past.
Justice Mohammed sentenced Ekanem to 2 years for every of the seven expenses, totalling 14 years, with an choice to pay a wonderful of N200,000 per depend into Nigeria’s Consolidated Income Account.
Moreover, the decide ordered the forfeiture of all telephones recovered from the convict, deeming them proceeds of crime.
Ekanem was additionally required to swear an affidavit of excellent behaviour.
Ekanem’s arrest in September 2024 marked the beginning of his authorized troubles after the EFCC operatives apprehended him at Choba, Port Harcourt, for fraudulent on-line actions.
This conviction underscores the EFCC’s dedication to combating cybercrime and web fraud, particularly amongst younger individuals.
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