By Nkechi Eze
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of five internet fraudsters before JusticesR.M.Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna and D.H Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
Dele Oyewale the commission’s spokesperson in an official signed statement disclosed that the convicts are, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani), Samson Adeoye Iyangbe (a.k.a Trans Anna Bella), Bashir Kashim (a.k.a Hannah Barron) Merenini Ekene and Yakubu Musa.
While Yohanna, Iyangbe, Kashim and Ekene were prosecuted before Justice Aikawa on a separate one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime, Musa was prosecuted before Justice Khoboon amended one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N3million.
The charge against Yohanna reads: “That you, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani) male, sometime in 2023 in Jos, Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, falsely presented yourself as Alessandra Bondani; a white woman on Facebook and Telegram (which are online social media applications) and in that assumed character gained advantage for yourself the total sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200.00), which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
The charge against Musa reads: “That you Yakubu Musa sometime in 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly misappropriated a certain property to wit: the total sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only, property belonging to Thalmon Friday, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 1999 and punishable under Section 308 of the same Law.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, F.A.I Asemebo and M. Lawa prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients have becomeremorseful for their actions.
Justice R.M.Aikawa convicted and sentenced Yohanna to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition he forfeited the sum of $200.00,being proceeds of his crime, one Redmi 13c phone and one Dell laptop computer being tools of his crime to the federal government.
Iyangbe bagged five years imprisonment or to payN600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira ) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $15.00(Fifteen United StatesDollars), being the proceeds of crime and one Gionee phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.
Kashim was convicted andsentenced to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $500.00 (Five Hundred United States Dollars) being the proceeds of crime, one iPhone 14 pro Max mobile phone and one Samsung A14 mobile phone, being the tools of his crime in favour of the federal government.
Ekene on his part, bagged five years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition,he forfeited his Techno Smart 4 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yohanna and Iyangbe were arrested in Jos, Plateau State, whileKashim and Ekene were arrested in Minna, Niger State following actionable intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Justice Khobo sentenced Musa to one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) In addition, he isto restitute his victim the sum of N3million (Three Million Naira).
Musa’s road to jail began following his victim’s petition that in 2014 that he, Musa, being his inlaw informed him that there is a plot of land at Mahuta area of Kaduna State for sale at the cost of N3million, of which he became interested and transferred the money to him. While Musa never bought the land, all efforts to recover the money from him proved abortive.
