The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Command on February 15, 2023 secured the conviction of one Emmanuel Innocent Ochogwu on one count charge of fraud before Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court Maitama, Abuja.

The count reads: "That you, Emmanuel Innocent Ochogwu "M" sometime in January, 2022 in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently frank electronic message by which you represented yourself to be one NOAL HILLS, a Military Doctor from United State of America on Instagram and obtained from one Miss. PETRA BONACOVA, a Czech Republic National, the sum of $104 USD (One Hundred and Four Dollars) worth of Bitcoin, which you converted and transferred to your Zenith Bank Account No. 2264654328 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(3) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act ".

When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty.

Consequently, Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced Ochogwu to one year imprisonment or a fine of N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira).

He is also to forfeit his INFINIX HOT 8 phone and the amount in his Zenith bank account to Federal Government of Nigeria, while the account will be closed forthwith.

Media & Publicity

17/02/2023