Rivers State: internet fraudster sentenced to one year in prison

Kelvin Ifeanyi, an internet fraudster, has been sentenced to a one-year jail term at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre by Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The sentencing came after Ifeanyi was arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge related to obtaining money under false pretenses. The charge was in violation of 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.

The charge against him stated that on or about July 21, 2022, within the jurisdiction of the court, Kelvin Ifeanyi fraudulently obtained $2,400 worth of Bitcoin Currency from a foreign national named John Dubhthaigh. He falsely claimed to be a Crypto Trader, a pretense he knew to be false.

When the one-count charge was read to him, Ifeanyi pleaded guilty. In response to his plea, the prosecution counsel, E.K. Bakam, presented evidence and requested the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.

The defendant’s counsel, E. D. Ani, implored the court to show mercy, emphasizing that the defendant had no previous criminal record and was a first-time offender.

Justice Ajoku found the defendant guilty, convicted him, and sentenced him to one year in the Correctional Service. The judge also provided the option of a fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) to be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Furthermore, the court ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone 11 Promax and one Redmi mobile device that were recovered from the convict to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The sum of Two Thousand Four Hundred United States Dollars ($2,400) recovered from the convict was also ordered to be forfeited and returned to the victim, John Dubhthaigh, who is a foreigner.

Additionally, the judge mandated that the convict should swear an affidavit of good behavior before the court.

Ifeanyi’s journey to the Correctional Service began with his arrest by EFCC operatives, alongside his syndicate members, for their involvement in internet-related crimes, leading to his subsequent court conviction.