Courts Jail Seven for Fraud in Kaduna

Justices A.Isiaka, Darius Khobo and M.J Zubairu of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced Caleb Ibrahim Hamman, Miracle Nuhu Tukurah, Jeremiah John, Emmanuel Edward, Anryu Akindarju Mamza, Emmanuel Yashima Mana and Adebayo Olarotimi Akanbi to jail for fraud.

They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, impersonation and forgery.

Hamman, Tukurah, Mamza and Mana were prosecuted before Justice Isiaka, John faced prosecution before Justice Khobo, while Edward and Akanbi were prosecuted before Justice Zubairu.

The charge against Edward reads: “That you, Emmanuel Edward (a.k.a Yoo), sometime in June, 2025 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud falsely presented yourself as Yoo, (a Chinese) via ‘Wechat App’ (an online social media application) and in that assumed character benefitted the total sum of 1000 Chinese Yuan and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”

The charge against Mamza reads: “That you, Anaryu Akidarju Mamza on 9th January, 2024 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, presented yourself as a staff of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to one Farouq Ahmad Umar at his residence N0 9b Gwadabe Road, Angolan Rimi, Kaduna and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge, following which prosecution counsel M.Lawal, M.U. Gadaka, K.S Ogunlade, M.E. Eimonye, M.O. Arumemi and M.J. Argungu prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Isiaka convicted and sentenced Hamman to two years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 7, being the tool of crime to the federal government. He convicted and sentenced Tukurah to three years imprisonment or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Tecno Spark mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government. He convicted and sentenced Mamza to three years imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. He convicted and sentenced Mana to three years imprisonment or to pay N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Samsung Galaxy A12, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.

Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced John to five years imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Samsung Galaxy S10e and the sum of N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira, which is equivalent of P550) to the federal government, being the tool and proceeds of crime, respectively.

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Justice Zubairu convicted and sentenced Edward to two years imprisonment or to pay N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Techno GO mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government and restituted the sum of 1000 Chinese Yuan being the proceeds of his crime to his victim. He convicted and sentenced Akanbi to three years imprisonment or to pay N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Blue Oppo A15 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.

Hamman, Tukurah, Mana, Akanbi, John and Edward were arrested in Kafanchan LGA and Buzong area of Kaduna State, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities, while Mamza, who impersonated EFCC operative was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in the course of his execution of a search with a forged warrant and subsequently handed over to the EFCC.