An accused person identified as Miracle Ezeochia has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for defrauding unsuspecting individuals on Facebook.
The Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday convicted and sentenced Ezeochia for cheating by impersonation.
The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged Ezeochia before Justice N. U. Sadiq.
In a statement on its verified social media handles, EFCC said it received an intelligence report regarding the activities of some individuals suspected to be internet fraudsters in Kaduna, stating that the convict was subsequently arrested in a sting operation.
While analysing his device, it was discovered that Ezeochia opened Facebook and Instagram accounts with the profile pictures and names of Muhammed Malik from Qatar and Lucas James Williams, which he had used to chat with many people, one of whom he reportedly duped of $150.
According to the charge, Ezeochia, sometime in October 2022, in Kaduna, falsely presented himself as Muhammed Malik on Facebook, and, in such an assumed identity, cheated Malik Abdul Haseed of the sum of $150, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.
Having pleaded guilty to the charge, the prosecuting counsel, M.U. Gadaka, asked the court to convict him accordingly.
Justice Sadiq convicted and sentenced the accused to two years imprisonment with the option of a N150,000 fine and also ordered him to forfeit a Tecno POP 7 PRO phone and $150 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
