By Miriam Humbe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 has arraigned eight suspected internet fraudsters before Justice Anyalewa Onoja-Alapa of the Federal High Court Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Spokesperson disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
The suspects were arraigned on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretences.
The suspects are Timileyin Jude, Kelvin Godwin, Benedict Simon Udoh and Israel Ugwu.
Others are Friday Onigbe, Ismaila Jemilu, Salifu Mustapha Achema and Paul Attah.
Godwin’s count reads: “That you Kelvin Godwin sometime in the year 2025 at Karu, Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria fraudulently impersonated one Bad Ass Kylie from America by means of your iPhone 14 Pro mobile device via a fake Telegram social media account with intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals, under the guise of which you benefitted the sum of $200 (Two Hundred States Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b)(i) and (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.
Udoh’s count reads, “That you Benedict Simon Udoh sometime in the year 2025 at Karu Nasarawa state within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently through your iPhone 14 Pro Max fraudulently impersonated black military man from the United states of America using different social media site Neckter-recovery of Instagram, Wizzytechassit on email and anededepablo on Facebook with intent to obtain money and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b)(iv) of the same Act”.
All suspects pleaded guilty, prompting prosecution counsel S.N. Robert to urge the court to convict and sentence them.
In his ruling, Justice Onoja-Alapa convicted and sentenced all the defendants to one year imprisonment. While Jude, Godwin, Jemilu and Achema have the option to pay a fine of N100, 000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira), Udoh and Ugwu have an option of N150, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
Attah has an option of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) while Onigbe is to pay the balance of $204.35 having restituted $215 to his victims.
Justice Onoja-Alapa also ordered that all phones used to perpetrate the crimes be sold and monies paid to the Proceeds of Crime Account.
All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet crimes.
They were charged to court and jailed.
