A High Court in Kaduna State on Thursday, October 24, 2024, ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung S20, 3 HP laptops, three exotic cars and N9.5 million cash belonging to a convict, Stephen James, to the Federal Government.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Dairus Khobo, sentenced Mr James after he pleaded guilty to internet-related fraud to 10 months imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine.
Earlier, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s counsel, P.C. Oyeneho told the court that the convict was arrested following actionable intelligence about the activities of syndicates of fraudsters operating in Ungwan Sarki and its environs.
Mr Onyeneho said on receiving the report, the investigation revealed that Mr James, using a fraudulent Instagram page as “David Richard”, an American Army personnel in the United States of America struck up a friendship with one Ryan Frank – one of his victims.
He said that the convict defrauded Mr Frank N8 million between 2023 and 2024.
The prosecution added that the convict used some of the money he got from the fraudulent activities, to buy a Mercedes Benz C1300 2016 model, a Toyota Lexus E350 and Lexus E330 model and N9.5 million in cash was found in his possession.
He noted that the offence is punishable under the provisions of the advance fees fraud.
Following the plea of Mr John, and his extrajudicial statements, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the statements of the phones, HP laptop and the cars recovered from him at the point of arrest as evidence.
Mr Onyeneho urged the court to convict the defendant in line with his plea and the exhibits tendered before it.
