The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, announced the conviction of seven individuals involved in cybercrime, money laundering, and impersonation.
The convictions were secured in separate cases before Justices R.M. Aikawa and Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, and Justice A. Isiaka of the State High Court.
The individuals convicted are Agbecha Samson (known online as “Michelle Pfeiffer”), Shamsudeen Alubankudi (“Keren Adler”), Paul Wadai (“Odd Murphy”), Onomza Gwamna (“Dave Owen”), Godswill Effiong, Esogban Godtemple (“Lahm Moses”), and Odeyale Victor (“Candice Weiss”).
According to the EFCC’s statement on Friday, Samson was charged with retaining N20,554,781.84, an amount allegedly linked to fraudulent activities against a U.S. citizen named Johnson. “That you, Agbecha Fanem Samson, retained a total sum of N20,554,781.84 from one Johnson Aka Wolfman, knowing that the funds were proceeds of an unlawful act,” read part of the statement, citing the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another case, Alubankudi was accused of impersonating an FBI agent and certified hacker on Facebook. By assuming the identity of “Keren Adler,” Alubankudi reportedly defrauded a woman in the United States of $301. “Alubankudi falsely represented himself as an FBI undercover agent, a scam recovery agent, and in such character, defrauded one Charlene Landrum, who lives in Albany, Oregon,” according to the EFCC.
All seven defendants pled guilty, and the prosecution, led by M.E. Eimonye and M.J. Argungu, requested sentencing.
The court handed down various sentences: Victor and Gwamna received two years’ imprisonment each, with an option to pay a fine of N600,000. Effiong and Alubankudi were sentenced to three years each, with fines of N700,000 and N500,000, respectively. Samson and Godtemple received five years each, with fines of N500,000 and N600,000. Wadai received seven years or a fine of N700,000.
In addition, all convicts forfeited their phones, a computer, a Lexus car, and the proceeds traced to their bank accounts to the Federal Government.
The EFCC noted that the suspects were arrested in Minna, Niger State, based on intelligence reports about their online fraud activities.
