James Ekere, Udoo Aondofa, 8 other ‘Yahoo Boys’ convicted for fraud

On September 14, 2023, Justice O.A. Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, convicted ten individuals on separate one-count charges related to internet fraud. These defendants were prosecuted by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The convicted individuals are Ikyegh Senenge Bobo, Anum Cyprian Sesugh, Boniface Udoo Aondofa, Utor Stanley Torkuma, Obande Emmanuel, James Ekere, Tony Ochekwu Moda, Ochaje James, Shadrach Ugbu Aondona, and Odumu Michael.

The arrests took place at various locations in Makurdi due to their alleged involvement in cybercrime. Investigations revealed that they adopted different identities to deceive unsuspecting individuals into fraudulent social relationships with the intention of defrauding them.

Some of the charges included:

1. Ikyegh Senenge Bobo’s involvement in obtaining N5,662,200.00 from a Japanese citizen by disguising himself as a male Texan citizen named Nakamora.

2. Obande Emmanuel’s fraudulent activity through Instagram account “taratwithdephina” where he claimed to be a fortune teller and obtained $1000 USD from foreign nationals.

3. Abah James Ekere’s sending of electronic messages to Access Bank Plc and GT Bank with false transaction information.

4. Shadrach Ugbu Aondona’s use of the identity of Caitlyn Anderson, an American social media model, to send fictitious messages to foreign nationals and obtain $2,000 USD.

All ten defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Justice Egwuatu handed down the following sentences:

• Senenge received one year imprisonment with an option of a N500,000.00 fine and was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 13 Pro, Pontiac Vibe 2009 model car, and two plots of land to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

• Cyprian received one year imprisonment with an option of a N500,000.00 fine and was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

• Aondofa received one year imprisonment with an option of a N200,000.00 fine and was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 7.

• Stanley received one year imprisonment with an option of a N200,000.00 fine and was ordered to forfeit an iPhone. He must also pay N97,900 in restitution to the victim.

• Emmanuel received one year imprisonment with an option of a N100,000.00 fine and was ordered to forfeit an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

• James received one year imprisonment with an option of a N100,000.00 fine.

• Ochekwu and Ochaje received one year imprisonment with options of fines of One Million Naira and N500,000.00, respectively. Ochekwu was ordered to forfeit iPhone 3 and iPhone 8, while Ochaje was ordered to forfeit one iPhone 6 and one HP laptop.

• Shadrach and Michael received one year imprisonment with options of fines of N300,000.00 and N200,000.00, respectively. Shadrach was ordered to forfeit an iPhone XR.