Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, Thursday, convicted 22 internet fraudsters in a case brought before him by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

This was made known in a statement shared on the commission's X, formerly twitter, account on Thursday.

According to the statement, they were convicted on separate count charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

The Commission reported that all the accussed persons pleaded guilty to all the charges brought against them.

Seventeen of the accussed persons were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment each, with community service or an option of a fine of N120,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira only).

Sharing pictures of the suspects, the commission said, "The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on November 2, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of 22 ( internet fraudsters before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State.

"They were convicted on separate count charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

“The convicts are: Ayodeji Jerome Olumeko, Chima Blessing Afam, Obalim Johndson, Michael Echezona Anyikaeme, Alior Chidera Emmanuel, Chidiebube Ukaigwe Emmanuel, Dim Samuel, Amobi Stanley Ajala, Irobi Kingsley Chiedozie, Oranusi Sylvester Chigozie, Agbo Michael, Chibuisi Okpara.

"Others are; Casmir Ibebuogu, Nweze Chinamkpa, Precious Oluebube Chukwuka, Nzube Michael, Chisom Kingsley Mba, Chidera Hedrack Peter, Chukwuka Emmanuel, Chinedu James Nworji, Chukwunansa Igweonu and Akpata Sunday Onose.

'One of the charges against Olumeko reads; "that you, AYODEJI JEROME OLUMEKO, sometime in June 2023 in Ugwuaji, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one Scott Herman, a Foreign National using your iPhone 12 pro, through your Gmail account with intent to gain advantage to yourself a pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(3) (a) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act. 2015 and punishable under Section (22)(4) of the same Act”.

"Another charge against Onose reads; "that you AKPATA SUNDAY ONOSE sometime in October 2023 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Caire Gilliard, a white lady on your Facebook account using your Infinix Phone with intend to obtain money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) and punishable under Section (22) (2) (iv) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc) Act.2015.

"They all pleaded guilty to all the charges when read to them. Justice Dimgba convicted and sentenced seventeen defendants to two years imprisonment, with community service each or an option of a fine of N120,000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira only). Four defendants, Samuel, Chidiebube Ukaigwe Emmanuel, Nweze and Chukwuka Emmanuel, were cautioned and given community services.

"Only Okpara was cautioned and discharged. All the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for internet-related offences. They were investigated, prosecuted and convicted."