The fraudsters were convicted by Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The two fraudsters
Two internet fraudsters have been sentenced to prison by a court in Port Harcourt.
The two identified as Morgan Innocent Chinda (aka Richard Johnson Adams) and Joshua Pina were sentended to three years imprisonment, for internet- related offences.
The fraudsters were convicted by Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were jailed recently after pleading “guilty” to one- count separate charge bordering on impersonation and Internet fraud, upon their arraignment by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The lone charge reads Chinda: “That you Morgan Innocent Chinda (aka. Richard Johnson Adams) sometime in 2021, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently impersonated one Richard Johnson Adams, an American citizen and pilot working with American Airways with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (IV) of the same Act”.
The charge against Joshua Pina reads: “That you Joshua Pina (aka Berry Williams) sometime in 2021, on or about 28th June, 2021 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court fraudulently impersonated one Berry Williams with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (IV) of the same Act”
In view of the pleas of the defendants, prosecution counsel, N.A. Dodo prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Mohammed found them guilty as charged, and consequently convicted and sentenced Chinda to two years imprisonment with an option of fine of N250,000, and Pina to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N50,000.
The judge ordered that the items recovered from the convicts at the point of arrest: iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 and Qukitel C 19 be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.