Internet Fraudster Bags 2 Months Imprisonment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 16, 2019 secured the conviction of Adiabokpa Emmanuel before Justice M.G.Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City, Edo State.

Emmanuel was convicted on a one count charge of impersonation contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(IV)) of the same Act.

Emmanuel was alleged to have impersonated one Patrick Ryan on a dating site in order to hoodwinked Miss Leong Sao Chu with the intent to obtain money from her. .

The count reads: “That you, Aiabokpa Emmanuel (alias Patrick Ryan ) sometime in 2018 in Uromi, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did fraudulently impersonate the identity of one Patrick Ryan on a dating internet site to one miss Long Sao Chu which identity you claimed to be your own with the intent to obtain money from her and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Cyber Crime ( Prohibition Prevention etc) Act 2015 and  punishable under section 22(2)(b)(IV) of the same Act”.

Upon his arraignment, Emmanuel pleaded guilty to the charge.

The prosecution counsel, Fredrick Dibang, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly but the defence counsel P.E. Ejiga pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as his client was a first time offender and a youth who has promise never to go back to the crime.

Justice M.G. Umar thereafter sentenced the defendant to two (2) months imprisonment. The court also ruled that all assets recovered from the defendant as proceeds of crime be forfeited to the victim through the Federal Government of Nigeria.