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Three internet fraudsters: Bernard Peter, Wisdom Handsome Isiakm and Nwabueze Nnemeka, alongside an oil thief, Emeka Stanley, have been convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were jailed by Justices E. A. Obile, S. D. Pam and A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.
All the judges convicted them variously on October 4, September 29, and September 6, 2022, after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge, consequent on their arraignment by the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge against Peter reads:
“That you Bernard Peter on or about April 2021 at Unity Estate, Ada Gorge by Chinda in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate one Sonia Jones via a Telegram account with the intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act.”
The charge against Stanley reads: “That you Emeka Stanley on or about the 15th day of September, 2021 at GRA junction, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court without lawful authority dealt in crude oil to wit: 7,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), laden in a tanker with registration number: Abuja ABC 896 AJ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (17) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Revised Edition) 2004 and punishable under Section 1(17) (b) of the same Act.
In view of their guilty pleas , prosecution counsels: K.W. Chukwuma-eneh, F. O. Amama, N.A. Dodo prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. However, defence counsels: K. O. A. Paula, D. Davies and E. M. Kudamnya prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, “because the defendants have become penitent”.
Justice Obile convicted and sentenced Peter and Isiakm to two years imprisonment each, with an option of fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000.00.). Justice Pam convicted and sentenced Nnemeka to two years imprisonment or pay Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000.00) as fine into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They all forfeited all their phones to the government.
Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced Stanley to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00). The court also ordered that 7,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, on board the truck arrested with him , be forfeited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The products are to be sold by the EFCC and the proceeds paid into the Commission’s Recovery Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
All the convicts began their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested for various offences, by both operatives of the EFCC and anti-illegal bunkering team of the 5 Division , Nigerian Army. They were prosecuted and convicted.