Pay 250k Fine Each Or Spend Six Months In Jail – Court Imprisons 9 ‘Yahoo Boys’

Justice F. Riman of the Federal High Court sitting at Akwa, Anambra State has convicted and sentenced nine internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo Boys” to six months imprisonment each.

The “Yahoo Boys” who were convicted on charges bordering impersonation were, however, given an option of N250, 000.00 fine.

Their conviction was secured by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, May 25, 2023.

A statement issued by the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren on Friday night, gave the names of the convicts as Isiwu Emmanuel Chidiebere, Ugwu Anthony Nnaemeka, Igwe Chidiebere Alexandra, Victor Ibik, Oti Precious Ikwen, Abumchukwu Maduekwe Dominic, Chinonye Emmanuel Olughu, Ochiaka Charles Somto Nwodo, and Amala Godswill Ndubuisi.

The charge against Isiwu Emmanuel Chidiebere reads; “that you, ISIWU EMMANUEL CHIDIEBERE sometime in May 2023 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Honorable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Big Mario, a foreign national by means of your iPhone 12 Mini through your fake Discord with intent to gain advantage to yourself, a pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(3)(a) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention Etc)Act. 2015 and punishable under section 22(4) of the same Act”.

The charge against Ugwu Anthony Nnaemeka reads; “that you, UGWU ANTHONY NNAEMEKA sometime in 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated the identities of JORDAN DENNIS, WALTER, and IRVINE through a fake Instagram account with the intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals and in order to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(3)(a) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, Etc)Act. 2015 and punishable under section 22(4) of the same Act”.

According to the statement, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges.

It added that the prosecuting counsel consequently urged the court to convict and sentence them as charged.

Justice Riman convicted and sentenced the defendants to six months imprisonment each with the option of N250, 000.00 fine.

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested the duo of Charles Osaigbovo and Evans Obayaedo, who impersonated Nigerian actor and movie producer, Fredrick Leonard, for their alleged involvement in a love scam, computer-related fraud and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of £38,000.