419 Coalition Note: Around the first of the year, EFCC began
yet another redesign of their site. It is abominable, illogically
done, annoying to use, and even less functional than the previous
design. We have told them the above, and hope they take heed,
as the new design is indeed awful. We, like everyone else, are
waiting to see what, if anything, they are going to do about
this.....
20 JAN 2023
COURT SENDS INTERNET FRAUDSTER TO JAIL IN UYO
Justice M. A. Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo,
Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday, January 18, 2022 convicted and
sentenced Paul Godknows John to three years imprisonment for
internet fraud.
John was arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on two-count charges
bordering on fraudulent impersonation and obtaining by false
pretences.
One of the counts reads, "That you, Paul Godknows John "M" sometime
in 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent
to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of $150 from one Nikki
Webledon, a US citizen by pretending to be Calvin Richardson on
Telegram and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section
1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences
Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act."
He pleaded “guilty” to the two counts and in view of his plea,
counsel to the EFCC, Enobong Ubokudom, reviewed the facts of the
case and tendered the convict’s confessional statements and
fraudulent documents printed from his phone, which were admitted
in evidence and marked as exhibit A to C, respectively. Ubokudom
thereafter prayed the court to convict John as charged.
Defence counsel, Cyprian Afahanam however asked the court to temper j
ustice with mercy as he client has become remorseful.
Justice Onyetenu sentenced John to twelve months imprisonment on
count one and twenty-four months imprisonment on count two. The
sentences run concurrently. The court further ordered that his
iPhone 12 Pro used in committing the crime, be forfeited to the
Federal Government.
John's journey to jail started on November 16, 2022 when he was
arrested by operatives of the Commission, following intelligence
received concerning his fraudulent online activities. The convict
specialized in using fictitious Telegram accounts to defraud
unsuspecting victims.
court-sends-internet-fraudster-to-jail-in-uyo
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18 JAN 2023
EFCC ARRESTS EX-CONVICT, 11 OTHERS FOR INTERNET FRAUD IN BENIN
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
Benin Zonal Command on Thursday, January 12, 2023 arrested 12 (twelve)
suspected internet fraudsters in Benin- City, Edo State.
Among those arrested is Okunrobo Smart who was convicted in 2022
for internet fraud. Others are Edobor Francis Tobilola, Peace Omo
Bartholomew, Justice Osagie Beggedo, Samuel Okosun, Uche Divine,
Christopher Lawani Iwinosa, Osayi Gregory, Anthony Irabor, Olaleye
Favour, Osagie Hope Godstime, and Desmond Ehator Osorumwense.
They were arrested at their hideout in Benin City, following
actionable intelligence.
Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include
mobile phones, laptops and a Mercedes Benz C300.
The suspects will be arraigned in court soon.
Meanwhile, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court, Benin
City on Wednesday January 18, 2023 convicted and sentenced two internet
fraudsters to six years imprisonment for fraud.
The duo - Osemudiamen Aganjile and Ekoh Godswill, were arraigned by
the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission on separate one count charge
of personation and intent to defraud.
The charge against Aganjile reads:
That you OSEMUDIAMEN AGANJILE (M) sometime between 2021 to 1st September,
2022 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable
Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be LUCAS SCOTT
from United State of America and thereby committed an offence contrary
to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 48,
Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As Applicable in Edo State), 1976.
The charge against Godswill reads:
That you EKOH GODSWILL (M) sometime between 2021 to 9th September, 2022
in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court
did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be MARTHA FX, a verified
and legitimate Bitcoin Trader and thereby committed an offence contrary
to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 48,
Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (As Applicable in Edo State), 1976.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective
charges.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, I.K. Agwa prayed the court
to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, the defence counsel,
S.A.Aichienede pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as
the defendants were first-time offenders who have become remorseful for t
heir actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced the duo to three years
imprisonment each with an option of N200, 000 ( Two Hundred Thousand
Naira) fine.
The convicts are to forfeit their phones and the balance of Three
Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and
Eighty Six (N3,677,986) found in Aganjile's UBA and First Bank account;
and the sum of N767,677 ( Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Six
Hundred and Seventy Seven Naira) in Godswill's Sterling Bank account,
being proceeds of crime to the Federal government of Nigeria through
the EFCC.
The defendants are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour
henceforth.
The convicts' journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were
arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC for internet-
related offences. They were charged to court and convicted.
The press release includes photos:
efcc-arrests-ex-convict-11-others-for-internet-fraud-in-benin
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18 JAN 2023
EFCC READY, COMPLIANT WITH WAPIS PROGRAM- BAWA
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, has expressed the readiness and compliance
of the Commission with the requirements of the West Africa Police
Information System, WAPIS, Programme.
He made this disclosure on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 while receiving
a delegation of the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL,
led by its Executive Director, Police Services, Stephen Kavangh, at the
Corporate Headquarters of the Commission.
Bawa commended the concept of WAPIS, stressing that information exchange
and coordination among West -African law enforcement agencies is a veritable
mechanism of achieving openness and transparency in the investigation and
prosecution of criminal matters.
"Naming and shaming are important in checking criminal tendencies. Every
record and data imputed into WAPIS Platform are good for the whole world.
At the EFCC, the 2220 convictions secured in 2021 are already uploaded
on the platform, though the data are still Stand Alone Upload, due to
the logistics of connecting the WAPIS server. Between now and June 2023,
all data regarding investigation, prosecution and conviction of suspects
and convicts since 2004 will be uploaded", he said.
Continuing, Bawa explained that Nigeria is leading the way in law enforcement,
through its agencies, especially the EFCC. Already, “we have submitted the
3785 convictions secured by the Commission in 2022 to the WAPIS Desk Officer
in EFCC. This shows our commitment to the program," he said.
Earlier, Kavangh explained the basis for the WAPIS Program and expectations
from all law enforcement agencies across the West-African sub-region. "Our
ambition is to make sure Nigeria is strong. With 16 countries coming together
in West Africa sharing intelligence and critical information, law enforcement
will be strengthened," he said. He commended the EFCC for its clear commitment
and determination in the pursuit of its mandate.
Kavangh was accompanied on the visit by a large entourage, including Head
of INTERPOL, National Centre Bureau(NCB) in Nigeria, Assistant Inspector
General of Police, AIG Umar Garba.
The press release contains a photo:
efcc-ready-compliant-with-wapis-program-bawa
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17 JAN 2023
UYO COURT JAILS BEAUTICIAN FOR INTERNET FRAUD
Justice M.A Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa
Ibom State, has jailed a beautician, Williams Kingsley, over internet
fraud.
Kingsley was arraigned by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a lone-count charge bordering
on possession of fraudulent documents.
The lone-count charge reads: "That you, Kingsley Williams "M" sometimes
in 2022, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did possess
documents containing false pretences and thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud- Related
Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act".
He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Enobong Ubokudom, reviewed
the facts of the case and tendered the confessional statements of the
defendant, his laptop and fraudulent documents, which were all admitted
in evidence and marked as exhibit A , B, C & D. Ubokudom thereafter
urged the court to convict Kingsley as charged.
Defence counsel, Francis Ezike prayed the court to tamper justice with
mercy and give his client, “a first-time offender”, a lesser sentence.
Justice Onyetenu sentenced him to four months imprisonment without an
option of fine. The sentence runs from the date of arrest. The court
further ordered that the laptop, used in committing the crime, be
forfeited to the Federal government.
Kingsley's journey to jail started on November 4, 2022 when he was
arrested by operatives of the Commission, following actionable
intelligence concerning his online criminal activities.
Upon arrest, investigations revealed that the convict specialised
in employment scam. His modus operandi includes luring his victims
with job opportunities which never existed and deceiving them into
paying for fraudulent working tools for the phony jobs.
The press release contains a photo of the 419er:
uyo-court-jails-beautician-for-internet-fraud
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4 JAN 2023
EFCC SECURES 3785 CONVICTIONS IN 2022
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, secured
a total of 3785 (Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-five)
convictions across all its Commands in 2022. The figure, which
emerged from a review of the Commission’s performance in the
outgone year, shows a 70.5% improvement over its record for
2021(2220). It also represents a 98.93% success rate in
prosecution given that the Commission lost only 41 cases,
representing 1.07% within the period.
As it was in 2021, the Lagos Command of the Agency recorded the most
convictions-765, closely followed by the Ibadan Command with 573
convictions and the Port Harcourt Zonal Command- 567, while the
headquarters recorded 314 convictions.
The conviction secured by the Commission in 2022 is the highest
by the EFCC Since inception, and sustains an upward trajectory
which began shortly after the emergence of the administration
of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Buhari administration was elected in 2015 on a tripod of
promises- anti-corruption, economic recovery and security. In
2015, EFCC recorded a total of 103 convictions. This shot to
195 convictions in 2016, the first full year in office of the
Buhari administration. The figure improved to 312 in 2018,
1280 in 2019, dropped slightly to 976 conviction in 2020, the
year of covid-19, then moved up to 2220 in 2021.
The percentile improvement of the EFCC convictions in the seven
years of the Buhari administration from 103 to 3785, is over 3574.8%.
Commenting on the performance, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC,
Abdulrasheed Bawa, commended the personnel of the Commission for
their industry and dedication despite the challenges of criminal
prosecution in court. He assured that the EFCC will continue to
motivate all categories of staff for greater efficiency through
capacity development and other incentives.
The press release includes a graphic:
efcc-secures-3785-convictions-in-2022
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