By Adeyanju Esther
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction and sentencing of Benjamin Apagu, Francis Dung Yusuf (also known as Richard Miller), and David Bini Semen (also known as Rose Kelly) before Justices Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, R.M. Aikawa, and Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, both sitting in Kaduna.
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC prosecuted the three individuals on separate one-count charges. Apagu faced a charge related to misappropriation and obtaining by false pretences, while Yusuf and Semen were charged with impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime, and obtaining by false pretences.
Apagu’s charge reads as follows: “That you, Benjamin Apagu, sometime in October 2022 in Kaduna, Kaduna State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly misappropriated certain property, to wit: the total sum of N1,919,000.00 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira) belonging to one Benedict Yashim Bakut, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under Section 294 of the same law.”
Yusuf’s charge is as follows: “That you, Francis Dung Yusuf (also known as Richard Miller), sometime in 2024 at Jos, Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained the total sum of Five Hundred United States Dollars ($500.00 USD), which you acquired from one Cathy Rinaldi by falsely presenting yourself as Richard Miller. This sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(D) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
All three defendants pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. Following their pleas, prosecution counsel M.E. Eimonye urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Apagu to ten years of imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira). Additionally, Apagu was ordered to restitute the sum of N1,919,000.00 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira) to his victim.
Justice Aikawa convicted and sentenced Yusuf to four years of imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira). Furthermore, Justice Buhari convicted and sentenced Semen to eight years of imprisonment or a fine of N450,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
In addition to their prison terms, Yusuf and Semen forfeited their mobile phones—an iPhone 13 Pro Max and an iPhone 7, respectively—to the federal government. Both internet fraudsters were among the 34 individuals arrested by the Commission in Jos, Plateau State, in June 2024.