They were sentenced to prison on Friday, October 13, 2023 after entering pleas of guilty to one count of a separate charge bordering on impersonation, according to a statement from the EFCC's spokeswoman, Dele Oyewale.
He lists the following prisoners as being incarcerated: Kingsley Chekwubechukwu Ngwu, Anthony Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Christian Onyia Chukwuka, Nicholas Chukwuneke Chibuike, Nonso Henry Ozoekwe, John Samuel, Okpe Matthew Chinweike, Kalu Nnachi, Okpe Joachim, Obike Ebuka Boniface, Kingsley Eze Onyedikachi, and Ogonna Samuel
Others include Denis Chigozie, Emmanuel Johnson, Basil Nnaluo Jason, Chidera Shedrack Ugwueke, David Chimerie Ukeje, Christian Nnamdi Jideofor, Osinachi Johnson, Okechukwu Ezeka, Onuorah Johnson, Ekene Christian Obikezie, Emmanuel Chinonso Aleke, Sopuluchukwu Paul Eneje, and Okechukwu Joshua Onah.
That you Chukwuneke Chibuike Nicholas, sometime in 2023 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Honorable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Elizabeth Olsen using your iPhone 12 Pro through a fake Facebook account with the intent to benefit yourself and to obtain money from unwitting foreign nationals, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 22(3)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Preventio
When the charges were read to the 25 defendants, they all entered pleas of guilty. Ani Michael and Rotimi Ajobiewe, attorneys for the EFCC, requested that the court find their clients guilty and sentence them appropriately based on their pleas. Following their conviction, Justice Dimkpa sentenced 22 of them to two years in prison apiece, with the option of a fine of N200,000.00 (two hundred thousand Naira only), while Onah, Aleke, and Nnachi received warnings and were held in the courthouse for eight hours before being let go.
When they were all detained for crimes using the internet, they all made their way to the Correctional Center. They faced charges in court and were found guilty.