A High Court in Kaduna State on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung S20, three HP laptops, three exotic cars and N9.5 million cash belonging to a convict, Stephen James, to the Federal Government.
Justice Dairus Khobo sentenced him to 10 months in jail with an option of N300,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to internet related fraud.
Earlier, the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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 environ.
Onyeneho said on receiving the report, investigation revealed that James, using a fraudulent Instagram page: “David Richard, a personnel of the United States of America Army in the US, struck up friendship with one Ryan Frank, one of his victims.
He said that the convict defrauded Frank of N8 million between 2023 and 2024.
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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 John, his extrajudicial statements, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case, tendered the statements on the phones, HP laptop and cars recovered from him at the point of arrest as evidence.
Onyeneho urged the court to convict James in line with his plea and the exhibits tendered before it.
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