KADUNA COURT JAILS TWO FOR INTERNET FRAUD

Justice A.A. BELLO of the Kaduna State High Court has convicted and jailed STEPHEN IME IBANGA and AUGUSTINE MMESOMA UMUNNABUIKE for fraud.

They were convicted based on separate one-count charge filed against them by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Both were arrested in Kafanchan LGA and Mahuta axis of Kaduna State, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.

IBANGA’S charge reads: “That you, Stephen Ime Ibanga (a.k.a James Armstrong) male, sometimes in March, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated James Armstrong (a citizen of United States of America) on 'Facebook' (an online social media application) and benefitted the total sum of N744,968.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Nine Hundred and Six-eight Naira, only) from several unsuspecting victims and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

That of UMUNNABUIKE reads: "That you, Augustine Mmesoma Umunnuabuike (a.k.a Demian) on or about the 16th of June, 2025 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Demian (a Korean national) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, cheated unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and punishable under the same law.”

They both pleaded “guilty,” following which Justice BELLO convicted and sentenced IBANGA to three years imprisonment, with an option of fine of One Hundred thousand Naira, in addition to the forfeited of his iPhone 15, as well as the sum of Seventy United States Dollars and Seven Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-eight Naira.

Similarly, Justice BELLO sentenced UMUNNABUIKE to two years imprisonment or a fined on One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira, in addition to the forfeiture of his iPhone 15 Pro to the federal government.