Court jails man, mother, girlfriend for defrauding American woman

A Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has sentenced Gift Kenneth and his mother, Dora Animam, to five years imprisonment each for defrauding an American woman.

Also, Kenneth’s girlfriend, Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe, got two years imprisonment for her role in the crime.

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The Court, presided over by Justice F. A. Olubanjo, however, gave Kenneth and his mother a fine option of N3 million each while Igwe was given an option of N100,000 fine.

They were arraigned on one count charge each by the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

They were alleged to have conspired and defrauded an American lady, Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson, of an aggregate sum of $902,935.

Kenneth, between 2018 and 2019, fraudulently impersonated one Raymond Carl Eric and proposed an infrastructural investment project to Henrichson who is based in Texas, United States of America and induced her to transfer the aggregate sum of $ 902,935 through one Shuaibu Abdullahi and Animam’s bank accounts.

Animam was said to have aided Kenneth with her Diamond Bank and Access Bank account Number to receive an aggregate of $166,000 and N27,000,000 from Henrichson.

The convicts, upon arraignment on Thursday, pleaded guilty to the charge while prosecution counsel, Francis. A.Jirbo, prayed the court to sentence them accordingly.

Justice Olubanjo convicted the accused and sentenced Kenneth and his mother to five years imprisonment or a fine of N3 million each while Igwe was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

The judge also ordered all items recovered during the investigation, which included a Mercedes Benz CL250, Mercedes Benz 300, iPhone 11 Promax, iPhone XX Max, Apple Mac book Pro, 2 Apple Mac book, N4, 000,000 found in his account, Twin 4 bedroom uncompleted duplex, cash of N4, 000,000 found on him and $ 4,255 recovered from his contractor, be forfeited and restituted to the victim through the American Embassy.