The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office, has secured the conviction of Precious Bala Musa and Jefferson Arinze before Justice P.Mallong of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna for cybercrime-related offences.
Precious Bala Musa was arraigned on March 11, 2021, on a three-count charge that borders on internet fraud.
The defendant was arrested in the Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State following information that linked him to a series of fraudulent activities that border on false representation, identity theft and obtaining by deception.
He pleaded ‘not guilty to the charge against him.
At the resumed hearing on March 19, he pleaded guilty to an amended charge following a plea bargain. Consequently, counsel to the EFCC Jamil Musa urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Justice Malong convicted and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment with an option of a Four Hundred Thousand Naira fine. The judge also ordered the convict to pay the sum of Five Hundred and Thirty-six Thousand Naira as restitution to the victim.
Similarly, Justice Malling also convicted one Jefferson Arinze on one count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and impersonation. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a Five Hundred Thousand Naira fine.
Jefferson’s trouble began when he was arrested in Faringada, Jos, Plateau State over a love scam.
He allegedly defrauded one Jean Morgan a female U.S Citizen of the sum USD 800 in Bitcoin, while posing as Edward Carson, based in Kingman, Arizona, USA.
He was arraigned on Thursday, March 18, 2021, and pleaded guilty to the one-count charge, prompting Jamil Musa, counsel to the EFCC to ask the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Justice Mallon, convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of a Five Hundred Thousand Naira fine, to be paid to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Judge further ordered the convict to pay the sum of USD 600 as restitution to the victim.
The $600USD shall be handed over to the EFCC for onward delivery to the victim (Jean Morgan) through the United States Embassy, Abuja.
