EFCC Gombe Achieves Conviction of 20 Individuals Involved in Internet Fraud

The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction of twenty individuals involved in internet fraud.

The convicted individuals include Pius Daniel Damba, Amachon Solomon Ajiduku, Ephraim Ammam, Clement Daniel, Victor Ale, Abdul Rahman Bashir Gimba Magaji, Caleb Ephesian, Kenneth Justine Chinemeren, Ruboh Danjuma Zogimba, Emmanuel Gangana Burba, Kingsley Adashi Adeh, and Rechard Unah Ojor, among others. Additional names include Motiyedi Dore, Godwin David Haruna, Henry Abraham, Mashi Ambrose, Ambition Zare Boniface, Joshua Mark Asose, and Tonga Samuel. The defendants faced charges related to impersonation, intent to defraud, and cheating; they appeared before Justices Aminu Gaba, MA Sambo, and Nuhu S. Adi at the Federal and High Courts of Bauchi and Taraba States between May 26 and May 30, 2025. One specific charge against Richard Unah Ojor states that he knowingly created a Twitter account under the false identity of a Swedish national named "Pastella" or "Nathalie Henry," using his mobile iPhone 14 Pro. He engaged in fraudulent activities, including persuading an individual named John GG to send him $650 USD, which he converted into local currency through his OPAY account. This action constituted cheating by impersonation, violating Section 322 of the Penal Code. Upon their arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty, leading prosecution counsel MD Aliyu, AB Kware, S.E. Okemini, and JD Tortema to request appropriate sentencing. Defense attorneys, however, urged the court to show leniency, noting that the defendants were first-time offenders who expressed remorse. After considering arguments from both sides, Justice Garba of the Federal High Court in Bauchi sentenced Damba, Ajiduku, Ammam, Daniel, Ale, Bashir, Magaji, Ephesion, Chiemeren, Zogimba, Burba, and Adeh to eight months in prison or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each. In a separate ruling, Justice Sambo of the Bauchi State High Court sentenced Ojor to eighteen months of imprisonment or a fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). In Taraba State, Justice Adi of the State High Court in Jalingo sentenced Samuel, Abraham, and Ambrose to six months of imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each. Asose, Boniface, Haruna, and Dore received three months of imprisonment with an alternative option of a fine of N100,000 each.

The judges ordered the convicts to provide restitution to the victims and to forfeit their laptops and mobile phones, which were deemed tools of their crimes, to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The EFCC's action followed the receipt of petitions from concerned citizens regarding the fraudulent activities of these individuals, which ultimately led to their arrest, arraignment, and conviction.