Court Jails Two Internet Fraudsters Over Romance Scam, Impersonation
A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos has jailed two internet fraudsters, Oluwafemi Rasaq and Chris Onabulu for involving in romance scam and impersonation.
This was revealed in a post by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC on Sunday via it’s X page.
According to the post, the fraudsters were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on cyber crimes.
The count against Oluwafemi reads: “That you, Oluwafemi Abdulwaheed Rasaq Sometime between January and September 2023 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently impersonated one Amanda Valery Malpica by holding yourself out as such on your Facebook and Instagram App, with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015.”
Also, the count against Chris reads: “That you, Chris Onabulu on or about the 10th day of October, 2023, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to gain advantage for yourself, fraudulently impersonated one ‘Anthony Hodge’ white male from Florida, United States of America, by holding yourself out as such to Sharon Lebec via email correspondence and you thereby committed an offencecontrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
Having pleaded guilty to the charges, Justices Deinde Dipeolu and N. Ogazi made their judgments on the case.
Justice Deinde convicted and sentenced Oluwafemi to four weeks community service with the EFCC, “where he is to be counselled and assisted on how to refrain from a life of crime”.
While Justice Ogazi convicted and sentenced Chris to six months imprisonment, with an option of fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira only).
The court also ordered that the items recovered from the duo to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
