A final-year student of the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Henry Nathaniel Ekanem has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison for internet fraud.
Nathaniel was jailed on Wednesday, by Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
The development follows his arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on seven counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and impersonation.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Henry Nathaniel Ekanem on or about 17th September, 2024, at Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Twenty Two United states of America dollars ($22) from Diana Roskov by fraudulently representing yourself as Coran Capsha, manager of the singer, Chris Stapleton, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud- Related Offences Act 2006.”
He pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, A. Abubakar called witnesses, tendered some documents as evidence which were admitted by the court and marked as exhibits. He thereafter prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly.
F. T. Fred-Boufini, counsel for the defendant did not oppose the prayers by the prosecution. However, she prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, stressing that the defendant was a first-time offender with no previous criminal records.
However, Justice Mohammed convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment on each of the seven counts or an option of fine of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge also ordered that all the phones recovered from the convict be forfeited to the government, being proceeds of crime.
The convict shall also depose an affidavit of good behaviour before the court.
Ekanem was arrested by operatives of the Commission sometime in September 2024 at Choba, Port Harcourt, for internet fraud and other fraud-related activities.
The convict successfully defrauded one Diana Roskov, among others, by fraudulently representing himself as Coran Capsha, manager of the singer, Chris Stapleton, through WhatsApp and Instagram chats, according to Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head of Media & Publicity.