Calabar Court Sentences Internet Fraudster to Prison

Four Alleged Fraudsters Arraigned in Uyo On May 12, 2025, the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) achieved a significant legal victory with the conviction of internet fraudster Ogagarojo Godstime, also known as Alex Gonzalex, by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu at the Federal High Court in Calabar, Cross River State. Godstime faced prosecution on two counts related to cyber impersonation.

One of the charges specified that he fraudulently posed as Marc Labelle on social media in 2024, aiming to illegally enrich himself. The charge further detailed that he acquired a total of $400, knowing the funds originated from his unlawful actions, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act of 2022. Upon pleading guilty, the prosecution, represented by counsel Khamis Mahmud, urged the court to convict and sentence Godstime appropriately. Mahmud highlighted that the convict had returned the stolen $400 through the Commission and requested the forfeiture of Godstime's iPhone 11 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. After considering the prosecution's arguments, Justice Ojukwu convicted Godstime and sentenced him to a concurrent twelve-month prison term on each count or a fine of N800,000. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of the iPhone 11 used in the commission of the offense. In a related case, three suspected internet fraudsters and one illegal foreign currency dealer were arraigned before Justice Sergius Onah of the Federal High Court in Uyo on the same day. The suspected fraudsters include Inemesit Asuquo Bassey, Franklin Edet Eyo, and Chukwudi Patrick Ahiahwo, while the foreign currency dealer is Kassim Mohammed. At the time of his arrest, Mohammed was found with various currencies, including U.S. Dollars, Philippine Pesos, Japanese Yen, Swazi Emalangeni, Gambian Dalasis, and Chinese Yuan, but lacked a valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria to conduct such transactions. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of operating a Bureau de Change business without the necessary licensing. The charge outlined that Mohammed conducted financial business unlawfully in Nigeria without the proper incorporation and permits as mandated by the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act of 2020.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel Barrister Joshua Abolarin requested the court to convict Mohammed, stating that the seized currencies should be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, to which the defense lawyer, Chigozie Ogunji, did not object. Justice Onah adjourned the case for sentencing while remanding Mohammed at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Uyo. Mohammed had been apprehended on May 17, 2024, by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the EFCC in Aba, Abia State.