Port Harcourt court sentences man to prison for internet fraud

Daniel Walter Anga has been convicted and sentenced to prison by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for engaging in internet fraud.

The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted him on a one-count charge of impersonation and using false identities on Gmail and Facebook for a romance scam.

The charge against Anga stated that he fraudulently impersonated a white male veteran military officer named Hudson Cole with the intention of gaining an advantage for himself. This offense is contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and is punishable under the same section of the Act.

Anga pleaded guilty to the charge, and the prosecution counsel, I. Agu, presented various documents as evidence, including the defendant’s statement, incriminating printouts from his mobile device, and his iPhone 12.

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The prosecution called a witness, Yahaya Yusuf Abbas, an operative of the EFCC, who testified against Anga. Based on the evidence presented and the testimonies of the witness, Agu requested the court to convict and sentence Anga accordingly.

On the other hand, the defense counsel, J. J. Simon, asked the court to show mercy, highlighting that Anga was a first-time offender and did not waste the court’s time.

Justice S.D Pam ultimately sentenced Anga to one year imprisonment or a fine of N20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira). Additionally, Anga was required to forfeit his iPhone 12 mobile device to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.