The Anambra Division of the Federal High Court has convicted and sentenced 27 internet fraudsters to various jail terms.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed in a statement on Thursday that Justice Nnamdi Dimgba handed out the sentences to the suspects on Monday after they pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

The Enugu State command of the anti-graft agency had dragged the suspects to court over allegations of fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

“The convicts are Ajaero Chidiebube, Kosisochukwu Wisdom Ugwu, Apeh Samuel, Hyacinth Henry, Ebuka Moses Ugwu, Abugu Emmanuel Ebuka, Ogbu George, Onoja Chekwube, Onu Ogbonna Celestine, Ugwude Innocent Ekene, Solomon Emeka Okechukwu, Kosisochukwu Mamah, Idoko Fidelis Ejiofor, David Ifebuche Moses, Jude Ikechukwu, Kosisochukwu Idoko Martins and Victor Odoh Chinecherem.

“Others are; Eze Caleb Somtochukwu, Ekeleme Victor, Osuji Kingsley, Eze Sopuruchukwu Marvin, Osuji Nnaemeka, Ikechi David, Ejiogu Chizoba, Arinze John Ojobo, Eze Daniel Chinecherem and Michael Ojo.

“The charge against Okechukwu reads: ‘That you, Solomon Emeka Okechukwu sometime in 2024, at Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated Jennifer Alberto from reading, United Kingdom by means of your Tecno Camon 20 with IMEI number 3551344570732428 via a fake Facebook social media account with the intent to gain advantage for yourself from unsuspecting foreign nationals and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22 (3) (a) and (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act,” EFCC stated.

According to the statement, the prosecutor, Michael Ani, prayed the court to sentence them after their guilty pleas, while their counsels, James Nwatarali and Okeke Benard, sought leniency.

“Justice Dimgba thereafter convicted and sentenced them as follows: Marvin was sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N120,000,00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) and community service, Samuel, Henry, Ugwu, Ebuka, Martins and Chinecherem bagged one-year imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N50,000.00( Fifty Thousand Naira) and community service while the rest were handed 1year imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and community service,” the anti–graft agency said.

It added, “Justice Dimgba also ordered that mobile phones recovered from them be forfeited to the federal government.”