COURT JAILS 4 FILIPINOS, 7 NIGERIANS FOR INTERNET FRAUD, CYBERTERRORISM

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has sentenced four Filipinos to prison for cyberterrorism and internet fraud. The convicts are REYNA MAE ERIBA, CHYNA SAMONTE, ZARA FABIAN and DOMINIQUE MEDINA, who were tried and convicted alongside seven Nigerians. The Nigerians are CHIDERA EZECHUKWU, FAVOUR OLUCHUKWU, EGWENUM IFEANYI, DAVID OKEZIE, GBENGA SHITTU SOLOMON, OGHOMIENOR JOTHAM, and IBRAHEEM OLAMILEKAN. Justice YELLIM BOGORO found the defendants guilty following their arraignment by the Lagos Zonal Directorate-One of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The EFCC alleged that the Filipinos hired their Nigerian accomplices and engaged them in the crime of identity theft and to pretend to be persons of foreign nationality, with the intent to gain financial advantage. In the case of one the Nigerian accomplices, CHIDERA EZECHUKWU, the EFCC alleged that he retained the sum of over Twelve-Point-Seven Million Naira, which is thought to be proceeds of unlawful act. EFCC spokesman, DELE OYEWALE, disclosed in a statement that all the accused persons pleaded guilty to the charges, and Justice BOGORO sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment, with the option of fines. The Trial Judge also ordered the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure that the Filipinos are deportation to their country of origin within seven days of their completion of their sentences.