Court jails three for internet fraud in Calabar

Justice Rosemary Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Calabar, Cross River State has convicted and sentenced the trio of James Emmanuel Ime (a.k.a David Young), Kingsley Friday Ime (a.k.a Alex Wan) and Udeme Clement Edward (a.k.a Suchi Wan) to various jail terms for internet fraud.

The convicts were prosecuted by the Uyo Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate two-count charges, bordering on money laundering, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The charge against Ime reads: “That you James Emmanuel Ime (a.k.a David Young), sometime in 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did directly take possession of the sum of N114,904.00 (One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and  Four Naira) only, which money you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

Edward’s charge reads: “That you Udeme Clement Edward (a.k.a Suchi Wan), sometime in 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly take possession of the sum of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars) only, which money you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: cybercrime and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to them,  prompting prosecution counsel Adebayo Soares to present a witness for the review of the facts of the case and tendering of evidence after which he urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. While there was no objection from defence counsel, Henry Effiong, he, however, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Justice Ojukwu sentenced the three to six months imprisonment on each of the two counts or to pay a fine of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira, also on each of the counts.

In addition, James Ime forfeited the sum of N114, 904, 000 (One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Four Naira), being the proceeds of his crime to the federal government as well as his Samsung A50 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime.

On his part, Kingsley Ime forfeited the sum of N110, 000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira), being the proceeds of his crime to the federal government as well as his Techno Spark G20 mobile phone, and a HP laptop, being the tools of his crime, while Edward forfeited the sum of $200, being proceeds of his crime, an iPhone 6 mobile phone, and a Toshiba laptop, being the tools of his crime to the federal government.