The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction of Musa Abdulmalik and Sunday Godwin before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court.
The two individuals were brought before the court on separate one-count charges related to cheating by impersonation, following investigations into their fraudulent activities conducted via popular social media platforms.
Both defendants entered guilty pleas during their respective hearings, leading the prosecution counsel, M.E. Eimonye, to move for their immediate conviction and sentencing in accordance with the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State.
The case against Musa Abdulmalik centered on his activities in January 2026, during which he adopted the false persona of Lynn Ben, a female adult entertainer, on the Telegram application.
Through this digital disguise, he successfully defrauded a victim identified as BJK of $80.
Presiding Justice Amina Bello sentenced Abdulmalik to five years imprisonment, with an option of a N300,000 fine.
As part of the judgment, the convict was ordered to forfeit his Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, identified as the primary tool used in the commission of the crime, as well as the $80 in criminal proceeds to the Federal Government.
In a similar ruling, Sunday Godwin was convicted for his 2025 operations on TikTok, where he operated under the handle “Chrismitchellprivateacc3” to defraud unsuspecting victims of a total of $400 AUD.
Justice Bello sentenced Godwin to four years in prison, also providing an option of a N300,000 fine.
The court further mandated the forfeiture of his iPhone 13 and the recovered $400 AUD.
These convictions underscore the ongoing efforts of the EFCC to sanitize the digital space and hold individuals accountable for identity-based financial crimes.