Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court has convicted and sentenced three individuals to prison for fraud-related offences prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The convicts — Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide and Solomon Joseph Christian — were arraigned by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on separate one-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
According to court documents, Hassan, who operated under the alias “Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni,” impersonated a Brazilian citizen on Facebook and defrauded a victim identified as Kerry of N90,000.
Olamide, also known as “Johnny,” was found guilty of impersonating an American citizen via TikTok, through which he deceived a victim, Jackie Sanders.
Similarly, Christian, who used the alias “Jenort,” impersonated an online identity on Facebook and obtained $150 from his victim.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel M.U. Gadaka urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Isiaka sentenced each of the convicts to five years imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
“That you… impersonated… via social media and in such assumed character defrauded your victims… thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017,” the charges read in part.
In addition to the sentences, the court ordered the forfeiture of all items and funds linked to the crimes to the Federal Government.
Hassan forfeited N90,000 and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8; Olamide forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 used in committing the offence; while Christian forfeited an iPhone 14 Pro and $150.
The EFCC disclosed that the suspects were arrested in the Agwa, Kudende area of Kaduna following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.