Kaduna State has once again solidified its reputation as a hotspot for internet-related fraud as three individuals face the consequences of their illicit activities. In a recent development, Justice A.A Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court sentenced Ogochukwu Mitchel Emmanuel Ijeh, Mohammed Kabir Bello, and Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold) to various jail terms after they pleaded guilty to separate charges.
Ijeh, also known as Dave Brandon, faced charges for falsely presenting himself as a Medical Doctor working at the United Nations Military Base on Facebook, engaging in a romantic relationship scam. Mohammed Kabir Bello was charged with fraudulently inducing goods worth N50,000 by sending a fake bank transaction debit alert. Sunday Simon, alias Ryan Eggold, impersonated the American actor on Facebook and cheated a U.S. citizen of $800 in a romantic relationship scam.
The convicts admitted their guilt, leading to their sentencing by Justice Isiaka. Ijeh and Simon received two years imprisonment each, with an option of a fine of N150,000, while Bello was given an option of a fine of N200,000. The charges spanned offenses such as impersonation, possession of scam documents, and paying for goods with fake credit alerts.
The convictions come as the latest crackdown by the Kaduna State Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The prosecution’s attorney, K.S. Ogunlade, emphasised the seriousness of the offences committed online when arguing for the right convictions.
These high-profile instances demonstrate the necessity of ongoing vigilance and strict measures to limit fraudulent operations in the state of Kaduna, as the state struggles with the rise of cybercrime.
