Internet fraudster bags two years in Port Harcourt

Justice I.M. Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Henry Stephen to two (2) years imprisonment for impersonation contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.

He was convicted on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 after pleading “guilty” to one- count amended charge, following his arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The one-count amended charge read:

“That you Henry Stephen Inuoha (a.k.a Christy Wagner) sometimes in  2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate one Christy Wagner  with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act.”

Based on Stephen’s ‘guilty’ plea, prosecuting counsel, N.A.Dodo urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly and that his  mobile Phone (iphone 7+) used in committing the offence,  be forfeited to the Federal Government.

In his judgment, Justice Sani convicted and sentenced Stephen to two (2) years imprisonment with an option of fine of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400, 000.00). He also ordered that the device used in committing the offence be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Stephen got into trouble after the EFCC received intelligence on the fraudulent activities of suspected internet fraudsters residing in Emmanuel Emenike Estate, World Bank Road, Owerri, Imo State. A team of operatives of the Commission executed a raid on the location and the convict was arrested.