UNICAL student jailed three years for internet fraud

A federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has sentenced Peter Ayigi Againpriye, a student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), to three years in prison for internet fraud. 

The student was arrested and arraigned by the Port Harcourt zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence, and possession of fraudulent documents.

In a statement on Tuesday, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC’s spokesperson, said the offences violated Section 1 (1) (a) and are punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

“He was convicted on Monday, July 17, 2023, after pleading ‘guilty’ to a three-count charge brought against him by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,” the statement reads.

“In view of the ‘guilty’ plea by the defendant, prosecution counsel, E. K. Ebipade called a witness and tendered documents to prove the case. Items tendered include: iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone XR, Statement of the defendant, consent to search devices form, certificate of compliance and scam documents printed from the defendant’s Instagram account. All tendered documents were accepted by the court and marked as exhibits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

“ASE 1, Albert Kukah, an operative of the Commission, while being led in evidence, told the court that the defendant was arrested sometime in June 2023, in an operation tagged, Eagle Sweep, at Golf Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for alleged internet fraud activities.

“He disclosed that investigation revealed that the defendant is involved in internet fraud and opened several Gmail, Instagram and Facebook accounts, and falsely presented himself as Diana Wilson in chats with Keess Van Darr, whom he defrauded the sum of €3,000 Euros.

“Relying on the documents tendered and the testimony of PW 1, the prosecution prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charge.”

At the court session, B. J. Jeoffrey, counsel to the defendant, did not oppose the prayers by the prosecution but urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

E. A. Obile, the presiding judge, thereafter convicted and sentenced the defendant to prison with an option of N50,000 fine on each of the counts

The judge further ordered forfeiture of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone XR recovered from the convict to the federal government.