The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Uyo Zonal Directorate, has secured the conviction and sentencing of seven internet fraudsters before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State.
The judgment was delivered on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.The convicted individuals — Victor Ekwonwa, Chukwudi Iwueke, Mbam Alexander, Ugorji Emmanuel, Joseph Ekwere Tom, Eze Daniel, and David Okeke — were arraigned on separate one-count charges that bordered on obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering, offences that contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the EFCC, the convicts were apprehended during a series of coordinated operations targeting suspected internet fraudsters in parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. Following their arrest,
investigations revealed that they had engaged in various online scams, including impersonation, phishing, and fraudulent transfers, aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims — mostly foreigners — into parting with funds.
The charge against one of the convicts, Joseph Ekwere Tom, read: “That you, Joseph Ekwere Tom, sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession and control of $500 (Five Hundred United States Dollars), knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
All seven defendants pleaded guilty to the charges when read to them. In view of their admission of guilt, prosecuting counsel, Khamis Mahmud, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, noting that the EFCC had presented sufficient evidence of their involvement in cybercrime activities.
Justice Ojukwu, in her ruling, convicted the defendants and sentenced each of them to six months imprisonment. However, the court gave six of the convicts the option of paying a fine of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) each, while Mbam Alexander was given the option of a ₦500,000 fine.
The decision to include fines, according to legal experts, may be aimed at providing an avenue for restitution and decongesting correctional facilities.In addition to the custodial sentences, the court ordered that Joseph Ekwere Tom and Victor Ekwonwa restitute the amounts of $500 and $100 respectively into the EFCC Recovery Account.
The judge also directed that all digital devices and tools used in perpetrating the crimes — including mobile phones and laptops — be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This conviction is one of several recent successes recorded by the EFCC in its ongoing crackdown on cybercrime across the country.
The anti-graft agency has reaffirmed its resolve to bring internet fraudsters to justice and has urged young Nigerians to channel their talents into legitimate and productive ventures.
The EFCC continues to warn the public against engaging in online fraud, reiterating that while cybercrime may appear lucrative in the short term, it ultimately leads to criminal prosecution, reputational damage, and the forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth.
