From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced Tobor Efeturi Godspower to eight years in prison for impersonation.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Godspower on two counts of fraudulent impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.
One count stated: “That you, Tobor Efeturi Godspower, on or about the 24th day of October, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one ‘Stephen Townsend’, purporting to be a military man stationed in Syria, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
The second count read: “That you, Tobor Efeturi Godspower, on or about the 24th day of October, 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently held yourself out as the manager of crypto account bearing the name ‘Rosemarie Altez’, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
Godspower pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecution counsel S.I. Suleiman presented evidence, including Godspower’s statements from 28–30 October and 1–6 November 2024, a Toshiba laptop, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro Max, a Casio wristwatch, fraudulent documents, and $300 in restitution. Suleiman urged conviction and forfeiture of the exhibits to the federal government.
Justice Aluko sentenced Godspower to four years per count, totalling eight years, with an option of a ₦600,000 fine per count (₦1.2 million total). The exhibits were forfeited to the government. Godspower’s arrest followed his impersonation of ‘Stephen Townsend’, a supposed Syrian-based military man, to defraud victims.