Justice M.Y. Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Maitama, has convicted and sentenced two suspected internet fraudsters, Godwin Christopher and Temitope Ature Mario to one year imprisonment each.
They were jailed on Friday, February 28, 2025 after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges bordering on internet fraud.
Christopher’s charge reads, ‘That you Godwin Christopher sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court attempted to commit the offence of cheating by personation when you created a fake Facebook account with the profile name Annita Scott and pretended to be an American from Atlanta, Georgia which you were not and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004”
Mario’s charge reads, ‘That you Temitope Ature Mario sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory attempted to cheat by personation when you represented yourself on Facebook profile page as Karlee Jean, a citizen of the United States of America which you know to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 95 when you read in conjunction with Section 321 of the Penal Code Laws (Laws of the Federation, Abuja) 1900 and punishable under Section 324 of the same law’.
They both pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them.
Based on their pleas, Prosecution counsel, S. N .Roberts prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Halilu thereafter convicted and sentenced both Christopher and Mario to a one year imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each. He also ordered that their phones be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Halilu sentenced both Godwin and Ature to a one year prison term or pay a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each. He also ordered that their phone be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The two convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet fraud. They were prosecuted and convicted.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
March 4, 2025
