By Prince Woke
Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua, and S. I. Mark of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, convicted and sentenced Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus to various jail terms for internet-related fraud.
The convicts were prosecuted by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges bordering on impersonation, advance fee fraud, and obtaining money under false pretence.
The charge against Chinweobo stated that he, under the alias Philip James, fraudulently obtained £1,000 from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, after falsely claiming to be a military officer serving in Syria and pretending to be in a relationship with her. Ugochukwu, posing as Amanda Pappers, a supposed U.S. citizen, defrauded one Grey of $800 by misrepresenting his identity and intentions.
All four defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsels A. Chukwuegwu and G. C. Ngborokwu presented incriminating evidence, urging the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsels, including G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus, and Chigozie Umunnakwem, pleaded for leniency, noting that the offenders were first-time violators.
Justice Ajoku sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months each at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, or a fine of N200,000 each, with the jail term to run concurrently from the date of their arrest. Justice Ayua sentenced Ugochukwu to one year in prison or a fine of N50,000. Justice Mark sentenced Samuel to two years imprisonment or a fine of N900,000.
In addition to their sentences, the convicts were required to depose to affidavits of good behaviour. Items recovered from them, including a Tecno mobile phone, Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, iPad, and a Lexus ES 350, were forfeited to the federal government.
Their arrests in April 2025 followed credible intelligence that exposed their involvement in fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.
