By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
The law has prevailed again as the Federal High Court, together with the State High Court in Kaduna, have found four alleged internet fraudsters guilty and served them different prison terms.
These individuals are Anthony Chukwu, Madaki Ismail, Samson Aliyu, and Christopher Israel.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kaduna Zonal Command stated that the convicted persons were charged with various crimes such as money laundering, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretense.
During court proceedings, the defendants were then prosecuted for committing offences punishable under Section 309 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Chukwu’s charge stated: “That you, Anthony Chukwu (a.k.a Carmelita Luna), sometime in December 2023, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, directly acquired the sum of N520,000.00 from Nelro Balmoria and other unsuspecting persons through false identity, which you knew that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, and you thereby committed money laundering, an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Aliyu’s charge read: “That you, Samson Aliyu (a.k.a John Dunwell), between January and May 2024 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, committed an offence by falsely presenting yourself as John Dunwell, a white man and an investment broker with AZ Finance Investment Company. In that assumed character, you cheated several persons, including one Lhes, of the total sum of P2,000.00 Philippine pesos via Instagram, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”
The courts issued their fair judgments on the lawbreakers.
Chukwu was given a five-year jail sentence or a fine of N300,000.00 by Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court, while Ismail was given a five-year prison sentence or a fine of N500,000.00.
Also, the federal government received the sums of N520,000.00 and $310 from each of the two prisoners, together with their smartphones, an iPhone XR and a Samsung S21.
Judge Darius Khobo of the State High Court imposed a penalty of N200,000 or three years in jail on Aliyu and N250,000.00 or three years in prison on Israel.
Along with forfeiting $50 to the federal authorities, Aliyu also forfeited the phones used to commit his offences.
Reports state that, working with credible intelligence, the EFCC operatives successfully rounded up Chukwu, Aliyu, and Israel in Kaduna, while Ismail was reportedly caught in Jos.
