EFCC, on Thursday, March 19, 2020 secured the convictions of two FBI
suspects and four others before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High
Court, Warri, Delta State for various offences bordering on
impersonation, Internet fraud and operating a vessel within Nigerian
Waters without due registration and licence by appropriate authority.
One of the convict, Patrick Erakposhere Onajokpe, alias John Mark was
arraigned on a two count charge of fraudulently impersonating the
identity of John Mark through which he defrauded unsuspecting American
ladies.
One of the count reads: That you Chief Patrick Onajokpe (alias James
Mark) Glory Agbare (at large) Alfred Akpewe (at large) Elena Onah (at
large) sometime between 2014 and 2015 in Warri within the jurisdiction
of this honourable court fraudulently impersonated the identity of one
James Mark claiming to be a black American working in deep sea off coast
of taxes, USA, in your hush app account where you enticed unsuspecting
American ladies into romantic relationships online and in that process,
obtained the aggregate sum of $878,489,24 from ladies and you thereby
committed an offence punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the
Cybercrime (prohibition prevention, ets) Act 2015 and punishable under
section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.
Upon his arraignment, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it
was read to him.
In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters, prayed
the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
However, the defence counsel, Paul Ejiga, prayed the court to temper
justice with mercy as the defendant was a first time offender and has
become remorseful.
Justice Nwite convicted and sentenced Onajokpe to five years
imprisonment, in the alternative, a fine of N6, 000, 000 (Six Million
Naira). He is also to forfeit all items recovered from him which include
a Range Rover Jeep, a Petroleum Filing Station, an uncompleted plaza and
phones. Justice Nwite also ruled that the properties be sold with the
proceeds restituted to the victim of the crimes.
In a similar vein, the court also convicted MacDonald Chukwuma Nnamdi
who was arraigned on a two count charge of obtaining personal
identification information and using same to file fraudulent tax returns
with the inland revenue service, USA.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. The
Prosecution counsel, Aso Larry Peters prayed the court to convict and
sentence the defendant accordingly. The defence counsel John Okhuihiev
be prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Nwite sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with
an option of one million naira fine.
One of the charges against him read. “that you MacDonald Chukwuma
Nnamdi, Daniel Mercedis (at large) sometimes between 2018 and 2019 in
Benin City within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with
intent to defraud used attached e-mail to obtain personal
identification information of others online and used same to file
fraudulent tax returns with the inland revenue service (IRS) of the
USA and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section
36(1)of the Cybercrime ( prohibition prevention etc)Act 2015.
Similarly, the Commission secured the convictions of Akinwade Olajide,
Onume Kingsĺey, Kelechi Ogbuiton and Seje Skinn. They were arraigned for
operating a motor vessel on Nigerian Waters without due registration and
licence from appropriate authority. They were convicted and fined the
sum of N600,000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) each. The judge also
ordered that the defendants undertake in writing to be of good
behaviour.