By Nkechi Eze
As part of its nationwide crackdown on cybercrime and online fraud in the country, the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned 16 (sixteen) suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Folashade O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The defendants are: Ibemere Gerald Ifechukwu, Ngwu Chidozie Henry, Onwugbolu Charles, Okeke Emmanuel Ebubechukwu, Ikechukwu Augustine Ibeanu, Samuel Obi Chidera, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Chinsed and Onoja Sampson Kingsley.
Others are: Chukwudi Francis Chinenye, Nwodo Nelson Obinna, Muolukwu Ikenna Anthony, Ebuka Peter Ejiofor, Okonkwo Nonso Chijioke, Ngwu Chidozie Sylvester, Duru Christopher and Seth Hyacinth Chidera.
While Emmanuel, Ebubechukwu, Henry, Chidera, Christopher, Francis and Charles were arraigned on separate two-count charges, the rest of the defendants were arraigned on separate three-count charges, all bordering on fraudulent impersonation, possession of fraudulent documents and money laundering.
Count three against Chidera reads: “That you, Samuel Obi Chidera, sometime in January, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did commit a felony to wit: Using and taking possession of the sum of Three Thousand United States Dollars ($3,000), knowing same to be fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”
Count three against Chijioke reads: “That you, Okonkwo Nonso Chijioke, sometime in January, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did commit a felony to wit: Using and taking possession of the sum of Five Hundred United States Dollars ($500), knowing same to be fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”
They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were separately read to them, following which prosecution counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in Enugu State Correctional Centre, while defence counsel, J. O. Ezeh, D. O. Orji, Lizzy Otakagu, E. J. Nwatarali, Michael Odom and Wisdom Ogbonna made bail applications for the defendants before the court, which were opposed by prosecution counsel on the ground that he was just served the applications and needed time to study them and file counter affidavits.
After listening to both sides, Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo adjourned the matters till February 17, 2025 for hearing of bail applications and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Enugu State Correctional Centre.
The defendants were arrested on Friday, January 17, 2025 in a sting operation at Dr. J. O Ukwutinife Close, Commissioners Quarters, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, following actionable intelligence linking them to online criminal activities.
Investigations revealed that while some of the defendants specialized in impersonating foreign nationals and defrauding their victims using fake social media accounts, others specialized on forging documents which they use in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
