By The Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters to separate jail terms over offences bordering on money laundering and obtaining money by false pretence.
The convictions were secured by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, before Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie.
The convicts, Ike Eusta-Prince Eziomume and Victor Pius Nnaegbo, were arraigned on separate two-count charges and both pleaded guilty to the offences.
According to the EFCC, Eziomume was found in possession of $200 and €260, proceeds believed to have been obtained through fraudulent online activities between 2024 and 2026.
Part of the charge stated that the defendant knowingly possessed funds linked to obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
Similarly, Nnaegbo was charged for unlawfully taking possession of €530, also identified as proceeds of internet fraud.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud urged the court to convict the defendants based on their guilty pleas and the evidence presented before the court. Defence counsel Douglas Besong, while not opposing the prosecution’s submissions, appealed for leniency in sentencing.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oghoghorie sentenced Eziomume to two years imprisonment with an option of N500,000 fine. The court also ordered him to restitute the sum of $200 and €260 to his victims.
Nnaegbo was equally sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N1 million fine and ordered to refund €530 to the victim involved in the case.
The court further directed that gadgets recovered from the convicts and used in carrying out the fraudulent activities be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The EFCC disclosed that the convicts were arrested on May 5 and May 12, 2026, during separate operations carried out in Umuahia and Aba areas of Abia State before being charged to court.
