By Nkechi Eze
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of nine internet fraudsters before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State. The individuals were prosecuted on charges related to cybercrime, including identity theft and impersonation, and sentenced accordingly.
According to an official signed statement the commission’s spokesperson Dele Oyewale,the convicted individuals are Daniel Okochukwu Okoh, Onwe Chidera Solomon, Hyacinth Chinedu Ani, Malachy Makuochi Adonu, Udeh Collins Chidimma, Ukoro Victor Somto, Ezekiel Valentine Chidubem, Ugwuanyi Kingsley Chinwetalu, and Obi Ezeanyim Eric Ifesinachi. While Adonu and Chidimma were each arraigned on two-count charges, the others faced separate one-count charges. All charges were brought under various provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
In one instance, Ukoro Victor Somto was found to have impersonated an American actress, Carly Kuiken, using a Telegram account in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims. Daniel Okochukwu Okoh similarly impersonated a Russian national on Instagram, using a fake profile to deceive a woman named Lubov Bustova.
The accused all pleaded guilty to the charges read against them. In response, the prosecuting counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsels B.C. Okeke, Wisdom Ogbonna, C.M. Okafor, and James Nwatarali pleaded for leniency, citing the remorse shown by the convicts.
Justice Anyadike handed down various sentences. Ani, Chinwetalu, and Solomon were each sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of a fifty thousand naira fine. Adonu received a two-year prison term or a two hundred thousand naira fine. Okoh was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fifty thousand naira fine, along with an additional order to perform two weeks of community service. Chidimma received 12 months imprisonment or a fine of one hundred thousand naira on the first count, and 18 months or a fine of two hundred thousand naira on the second. Somto was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a fine of two hundred thousand naira. Ifesinachi got six months with a one hundred thousand naira fine option, while Chidubem received 18 months imprisonment with an option of a two hundred thousand naira fine.
In addition to the custodial and financial penalties, Justice Anyadike ordered the forfeiture of phones and laptops used in the cybercrimes by Ani, Ezekiel, Collins, and Okoh to the Federal Government. The convicted individuals were among 51 suspects arrested on May 2, 2025, at Premier Layout, Enugu State, following intelligence that linked them to internet-related fraud activities.
In a related development, Justice Anyadike also ordered the remand of Okafor Sunday Chikwado at the Nigeria Correctional Facility in Awka for allegedly operating a Bureau De Change business without proper licensing from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Chikwado, who trades under the name Asia Big Name Enterprise Heritage, was arraigned by the EFCC on a three-count charge that includes unauthorized financial operations, failure to declare assets, and non-compliance with EFCC inquiries.
According to one of the charges, Chikwado was accused of conducting Bureau De Change operations in May 2025 in Onitsha without a valid license, an offence contrary to Section 57(1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2010.
Chikwado pleaded not guilty to the charges. The EFCC prosecutor, Ajobiewe, requested that he be remanded and a trial date be fixed. Justice Anyadike granted the request and adjourned the matter to July 15, 2025, for hearing on his bail application.
