The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Command has secured the conviction and sentencing of the duo of Ojo Gbenga Stephen and Emekhe Michael Ese before Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State on one count charge each for impersonation.

The charge against Ojo reads: “That you, Ojo Gbenga Stephen sometime in May, 2021 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently impersonate one Susan James from the United States of America with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (i) and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act, 2015.”

The charge against Ese reads: “That you, Emekhe Michael Ese sometimes in 2021 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, knowingly impersonated one Robert Anderson, when you falsely represented yourself to be a white woman, Giseli Dammer in order to gain advantage for yourself contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.)Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the same Act, 2015.”

According to a statement from the commission, prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi after the defendants’ pleas prayed the court to convict and sentence them as he reviewed the facts of the cases.

Justice Agomoh thereafter convicted and sentenced Ojo to nine months imprisonment and Ese to five months imprisonment.

She further ordered that Ojo restitute the sum of N850, 000.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) to his victim while Ese was to pay $700USD (Seven Hundred United States Dollars) in restitution and forfeit one white coloured iPhone X and a grey coloured Samsung A32 to the Federal government of Nigeria.