The Kaduna Zonal Command of EFCC has secured the conviction of Favour Arasomwan, alias Lewis Richard Michael and Oyebamiji Obamijesu Stephen, alias Lorraine Ramsdell in a Kaduna State High Court on separate one-count charges bordering on cybercrime.
In a statement, the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the convicts were among 26 suspects arrested in a sting operation in Abuja over alleged involvement in internet-related fraud schemes, noting that investigation revealed that they used various social media apps to defraud their victims of money.
Police seal Nasarawa assembly complex as leadership crisis deepens
Niger demolishes police station on pipeline
The charges against the defendants reads in part: “That you, Favour Arasomwan (aka Lewis Richard Michael) (M) between January and May, 2023, at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as Lewis Richard Michael and in that assumed character cheated one Erika Maria Pack of the sum of $2,000 when you pretended to be in a romantic relationship with her thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 306 (a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code of 2017 and punishable under Section 307 of the same Law.
“That you, Oyebamiji Obanijesu Stephen (aka Lorraine Ramsdell) sometime in May, 2023, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as Lorraine Ramsdell (a citizen of the United States of America) to be paid Maryland benefit offered to United States citizens which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”
The defendants pleaded guilty and Justice Darius Khobo convicted and sentenced them accordingly with the option of N150,000 each.
