Two men, Samuel Ezekiel Godfrey and Yahaya Mustapha, have been convicted by the Federal High Court in Kaduna for cybercrime and identity fraud following their prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice R.M. Aikawa delivered the judgment, convicting both individuals on separate counts of cyber-related offences.
Godfrey was found guilty of posing as “Dixon Kelvin” on Facebook in 2025, where he defrauded unsuspecting users of N191,580 in Bida, Niger State.
Mustapha, on the other hand, impersonated a fictitious American named “Mike Benjamin” on the same platform and fraudulently secured $100 in April 2025.
The EFCC stated that the offences breached sections of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) The Act of 2015 criminalises online impersonation and fraudulent activities.
After both defendants entered guilty pleas, the prosecution urged the court to deliver appropriate sentencing.
The defence appealed for leniency, emphasising their clients’ regret and willingness to make amends.
Justice Aikawa ordered Godfrey to serve two years in prison or pay a fine of N500,000.
He also forfeited both the criminal proceeds and the iPhone used in perpetrating the fraud to the Nigerian government.
Mustapha was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment or a fine of N300,000.
The court also mandated the return of the $100 to the victim and the forfeiture of his iPhone 14 Pro.
Their arrest was made possible through intelligence that traced their fraudulent acts to Bida in Niger State.