Man convicted for specializing in defrauding foreigners

Juliana Francis

Mr Peter James has been convicted for specializing in defrauding foreigners via social media.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), secured the conviction on a one-count charge of impersonation and attempt to cheat.

The EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade said: “The convict was arrested in connection with some suspicious activities and was investigated by operatives of the EFCC. Investigations revealed that he specializes in defrauding foreigners of their hard earned money, through internet fraud. Electronic devices recovered from him, which were subjected to forensic analysis revealed incriminating documents, linking him to online fraud. He was discovered to have been parading himself on QQ International, an instant messaging application, as “Barnett Edward” a United States Army who got injured in Afghanistan. This, he did to attract sympathy and defraud unsuspecting people.”

James was on January 24, 2019 brought before Justice Modupe Adebiyi, of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu.

The count reads: “That you, Peter James, sometimes in 2018 at Abuja the judicial division of this Honourable Court, did attempt to cheat by personating while representing yourself on QQ International as Barnett Edward, an army officer deployed to Afghanistan and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 324 of penal code, laws of Federation (Abuja) 1990.”

He pleaded “guilty” to the charge. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Best Ojukwu, urged the Court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Adebiyi, thereafter convicted him, and adjourned to January 31, 2019 for sentencing.

In another development the Commission, Gombe Zonal Office, has secured the conviction of Isah Amir Muhammad on a one-count charge bordering on stealing.

Amir was arraigned on January 23, 2019 before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court, for defrauding Naomi Ezekiel.

Ezekiel, who petitioned the EFCC, alleged that sometime in March 2018, at an ATM point, First Bank Nigeria Plc branch in Gombe, Amir had volunteered to assist her, when unknown to her, he swapped her ATM card for another, and used it to transfer N293, 000 from her account to his.

The count reads: “That you, Isah Amir Muhammad, sometimes in March 2018, at Gombe, Gombe State within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, dishonestly took property (money) to the tune of N293, 000 from Naomi Lewis Ezekiel without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of section 286 (1) of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 287 of the same Law.” He pleaded guilty to the charge.

In view of his guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, A.Y. Muntaka, urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

After considering the plea of the defence, Justice Jauro convicted and sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of N100, 000 as fine.

The Kaduna Zonal office of the Commission also secured the conviction of a businessman, Haruna Aliyu, who was arraigned before Justice Darius Khobo of a Kaduna State High Court on a one-count charge bordering on cheating.

The count reads: "That you, Haruna Aliyu and Abdullahi Abdulhamid sometime between the month of April and May 2017 in Kaduna within the judicial division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N3,300, 000 from Yusuf Babajo under false pretence that you have five plots of land for sale located at BarkaAllah village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State; a claim you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the Same Act".

Upon his arraignment on May 2, 2018 he pleaded "not guilty" and the case was adjourned to July 2, 2018 for commencement of trial.

Prosecuting counsel, Esmond Garba, presented two witnesses.

However, counsel for the defendant, Martins Egboche, informed the court that the defence had opted for a plea bargain.

The defendant, thereafter, changed his plea to that of "guilty". Premised on that, a plea bargain agreement dated July 15, 2018 was filed.

The defendant also paid the sum N900, 000 as restitution to the victim. In his ruling, Justice Khobo convicted him as charged, and upon the plea for leniency, ordered him to pay a fine of N100, 000.