Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State, has sentenced two Internet fraudsters, Samuel Ezekiel Godfrey and Yahaya Mustapha, to two and five years imprisonment respectively, with options of fine.
Godfrey was given a two-year jail term with an option of N500,000 fine, while Mustapha received a five-year sentence with an option to pay N300,000.
Both were convicted on separate one-count charges brought against them by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, bordering on criminal impersonation, cybercrime, and money laundering.
Godfrey, who used the alias Dixon Kelvin, was found guilty of using a fake Facebook identity to fraudulently obtain N191,580 in Bida, Niger State in 2025.
His offence contravened Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and is punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.
Similarly, Mustapha, using the fictitious identity, Mike Benjamin, a supposed American citizen, defrauded victims of $100 via Facebook in April 2025. His actions also violated the same provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.
The defendants pleaded guilty, prompting prosecution counsel, M.U. Gadaka, to urge the court to convict and sentence them.
Their defence counsel pleaded for leniency, noting their remorse.
In addition to their sentences, the court ordered Godfrey to forfeit N191,580 and the iPhone used in the crime to the Federal Government.
Mustapha was also directed to forfeit his iPhone 14 Pro and restitute his victim with the $100 he fraudulently obtained.
The EFCC arrested both men in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State following credible intelligence exposing their internet fraud activities.
