The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of two fraudsters, Victor Owoseni and Aminu Saleh, before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, on separate one count charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining by trickery.
Victor, who was arrested at Barnawa, Kaduna, following intelligence on his alleged internet fraud-related activities, assumed the identity of a Fadil Anis, opened a fake email account with the same name and contacted two victims posing as female cryptocurrency trader and seeking romantic relationships with them.
Aminu Saleh on the other hand was apprehended by Kaduna Vigilance Services (KADVS) and handed over to the Commission for further investigation, in the course of which he confessed to impersonating celebrities like Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston, using social media platforms to extort his victims mostly white men living in the U.S.
The defendants pleaded guilty to their separate charges.
Justice Bello convicted and sentenced Victor to six months imprisonment or a fine of N150,000, while Aminu bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N150,000.
Both are to forfeit their mobile devices, and Aminu the cash sum of $260 USD.
Similarly, the Commission arraigned one Mustapha Balarabe Dalhatu before Justice Bello on seven count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence and employment scam.
The defendant, a staff of National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies allegedly collected a sum of N1,000,000 from one Shehu Abdullahi and eight others, as part payment to secure employment for them in the Institution.
But he neither got them the jobs nor refund their money.
Investigation revealed that the defendant had been on suspension for serial job scam and misconduct.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, M.Arumemi urged the court to fix a date for trial to commence. But the defence counsel, I.O Ezenwa moved for the bail of the defendant.
Justice Bello granted bail to the defendant in the sum of One Million Naira and one surety in like sum. The surety must live in his own house with Certificate of Occupancy within the jurisdiction of court.
The case has been adjourned till July 13, 2023 for trial.
