By Nkechi Eze
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of one Abraham Ayomikun Ajibodu, before Justice K. Dagat of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State for internet fraud.
The convict was arraigned on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, on a two -count charge bordering on money laundering and impersonation to the tune of N10, 000,000.00.
Dele Oyewale the commission’s spokesperson disclosed in a signed statement that; Count one of the charges reads:
“That you Abraham Ayomikun Ajibodu between 2022 and 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of United States of America Dollars denominated cash app and gift cards worth about $7,470.00(Seven Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy United States Dollars) which upon conversion to naira amounted to an aggregate sum of N10, 000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) paid into your United Bank for Africa account No. 2114324883, Abraham A. Ajibodu being the naira equivalent value for the cash app and gift cards you received which you knew or reasonably ought to have known is proceed of unlawful act to wit: your false representation to unsuspecting foreign nationals like; Donna Hughs, Loreitta, Van Dough etc. using fake social media account like Facebook account with the name’ GEORGE STRAIT, a citizen of United States of America and thereby committed 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.”
Ajibodu, pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him and counsel to the prosecution, Abdulmalik. D Aliyu prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
The statement further revealed that Justice Dagat thereafter convicted and sentenced him to four years imprisonment on counts one and two with an option of N200,000.00 ( Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine on each count.
The judge further ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $ 400,00( Four Hundred Dollars) , being value of cash App and gift cards benefited by the convict to be repatriated to the victim as well as the forfeiture of iPhone 13 pro max, oraimo power bank and a used Honda Accord 2003 model to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for making false representation to unsuspecting foreign nationals like; Donna Hughs, Loreitta, Van Dough and others by using fake social media accounts like Facebook account and others with the name’ GEORGE STRAIT and defrauded them in the process.
