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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has won convictions against seven internet fraudsters. Justice RM Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna sentenced them.
The convicts are Paul Emmanuel Tumba (aka Cynthia Ebuka), Gabriel Fidelis (aka Diana Siako), Rotji Makwin Gonchor (aka Sofia Marcelor), Danboyi John (aka Ana Martins), Agbaje Abbas Olalekan (aka Dave Smith Vegas), Solomon Ameh (aka Scott Phillips), and Wisdom Mundi Luka (aka Loredana Calinescu).
They faced separate one-count charges for impersonation, holding fraudulent documents, obtaining money by false pretences, and keeping crime proceeds.
Ameh’s charge reads: “That you, Solomon Ameh (aka Scott Phillips), male, sometime in 2025 at Minna, Niger State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, falsely presented yourself as Scott Phillips, an investment broker from Miami, Florida, USA on Gmail and in that assumed character gained advantage for yourself the sum of $300.00 (Three Hundred United States Dollars) only, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
Fidelis’s charge states: “That you, Gabriel Fidelis (aka Diana Siako), sometime in December 2024 at Jos, Plateau State, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, fraudulently impersonated one Diana Siako, a female purportedly resident in Italy on Telegram and Facebook, defrauded Rain Shemesh and other unsuspecting persons of the sum of N970,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) only, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Law.”
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All pleaded “guilty” when their charges were read. Prosecutors YJ Matiyak and MU Gadaka asked the court to convict and sentence them. The defence begged for mercy, saying the defendants now regret their actions.
Justice Aikawa sentenced Tumba to two years in prison or a N500,000 fine. He forfeited N300,000 and his Infinix Smart 7 phone to the government as crime proceeds and tools. Fidelis got five years or a N500,000 fine, forfeiting N970,000 and an Infinix Hot 50i.
Gonchor received two years or a N500,000 fine and gave up his Samsung Galaxy S9. John got two years or a N500,000 fine, forfeiting $450, an ash-coloured Honda Accord car, an iPhone 15, and a HP laptop.
Olalekan was sentenced to five years or a N600,000 fine, losing his iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Ameh bagged five years or a N500,000 fine, forfeiting an iPhone 16 Plus, an iPad, and $300. Luka got five years or a N600,000 fine, giving up an iPhone 13 Pro and €220. The EFCC arrested them in Jos, Plateau State, and Niger State after finding links to internet fraud.
