Court jails three for internet fraud  in Kaduna

Stanley Ihedigbo

Justice A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna has convicted and sentenced the trio of Saadu Salisu, Omoruyi Osavbie (a.k.a Antonio Hendo Henderson) and Daniel Japheth (a.k.a Cain Steven) to various jail terms for internet fraud.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Dele Oyewale, the convicts were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Commission, on one-count separate charges.

While Osavbie and Japheth’s charges bordered on impersonation and cheating, that of Salisu bordered on obtaining by false pretence and cheating.

Salisu’s charge reads: “That you Sa’adu Salisu and Ihasas Ventures Nigeria Limited on or about the 1st of March,2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court, cheated and dishonestly induced one Adamu Bakori to part with the sum of N300,000.00 with the promise to secure a job for him and you thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 311 of the Kaduna State penal Code Law, 2017.”

Osavbie’s charge reads: “That you, Omoruyi Osavbie (a. k.a Antonio Hendo Henderson) sometime in May, 2024, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, represented yourself as one Antonio ahendo Henderson (A military personnel in the United States of America) on Facebook (an online social media platform) and in such assumed identity, cheated unsuspecting victims the total sum of N87,000 , and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law,2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”

Each of the three defendants  pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read to him, prompting prosecution counsel M. Arumemi and M. Lawal to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Bello, afterwards, convicted and sentenced Salisu to three years imprisonment or  a fine of N200,000.00. In addition, he forfeited N300,000.00, being the proceeds of crime to the federal government.

Japheth bagged four years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000 . Additionally, he forfeited the sum of £75.00, being proceeds of the crime and his iPhone 11 mobile phone to the federal government, while Omoruyi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment or  a fine of N450,000.00.

In addition, he forfeited the sum of N400,000 , being proceeds of his crime and his iPhone X max to the federal government.

Salisu’s journey to prison began when his victim petitioned the Commission, alleging that he convinced him in May 2021 that he could secure a job for him in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and later demanded the sum of N300,000.00 from him for the job placement, which he paid into the convict’s bank account but neither got the job nor his money back.