Court convicts 4 for internet fraud in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of   the quartet of Michael Jacob (aka Michelle Jacks), Abubakar Sadiq Hassan, David Elijah Yechei (aka Joeshpine Egbelo) and Victor Daniel (aka Catherine Mkeel25).

This was disclosed in statement signed by the commission on Friday July 14, 2023.

According to the statement, they were convicted before Justice Justice A.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on a separate one count charge bordering on internet fraud.

“They were arrested in a sting operation by operatives of the Commission following intelligence on their alleged criminal activities,” the statement said.

The statement unveiled that   “further investigation revealed how they fraudulently created fictitious accounts on various social media platforms with names of different individuals which they use to defraud unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money.”

One of the charges reads, “that you, Micheal Jacob (aka Michelle Jacks) sometime in May, 2023 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud falsely presented yourself as one Micheal Jack on social media platform (Facebook application) which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

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Another charge reads, “that you, Abubakar Sadiq Hassan (M) on or about 6th June, 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud had in your possession documents containing false pretence to wit; fraudulently/scam documents found in your Gionee S10 phone with IMEI No. 864728031350359 and 864728036350354 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to the charges. Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, M.Lawal and M.U Gadaka prayed the court to convict them accordingly.

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Daniel to 3 months imprisonment, Jacob, 1 year, and Hassan and Yechei two years imprisonment. They were however given the option of N 150,000 fine each. In addition, they are to forfeit all gadgets and proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.