The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, secured the convicted of the duo of Salim Bashir and Khalid Ola Abdulwasiu before Justices Darius Khobo and A.A Bello respectively of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, on separate one count charge bordering internet fraud.

The convicts were arrested at a hotel in Barnawa, Kaduna in a sting operation prompted by intelligence on their alleged internet fraud-related activities. Investigation established that they had impersonated several personalities in the social media and used the false identities to defraud unsuspecting victims.

The charge against Salim reads: “That you, Salim Bashir ( aka Owen Walker), sometime in March, 2023 within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court with intent to defraud, falsely presented yourself as one Owen Walker, United States of America (USA) citizen and in such assumed character cheated one Justus Ann the sum of $250(Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars) through your Facebook account and black online dating site known as BLK and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under the same Law”.

For Khalid, the count charge against him reads: “That you, Khalid Ola Abdulwasiu, male, sometime between January 2023 and April 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one John Walker ( a Military Doctor) from the United States of America on Facebook and in such false identity engaged Valerie Jackson in romantic relationship and obtained the sum of $200(Two Hundred United States of America Dollars) worth gift cards, and you thereby committed cheating by impersonation, an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.

They both pleaded guilty to the charges.

Prosecution counsel, E.K. Garba urged the courts to convict them as charged.

Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Salim to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand naira). He was also ordered to forfeit one Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max being the instrument used in committing the offence and the sum of $250(Two Hundred and Fifty USD) which was recovered from him, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Similarly, Justice Bello, convicted and sentenced Khalid to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.00(One Hundred Thousand Naira). He is also to forfeit one Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and the sum of $200(Two Hundred USD) to the Federal Government of Nigeria.


Media & Publicity

12/05/2023