Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday sentenced two internet fraudsters to two years’ imprisonment.
The convicts, Emmanuel Nwanze and Omogbe Justice, were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
They were arraigned on separate one-count charges of fraudulently impersonating foreign nationals, and both pleaded guilty to the charges.
The charge against Emmanuel read: “That you EMMANUEL NWANZE (Male), adult, sometime in July, 2025, in Ayobola Daodu Street, Sangotedo, Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Julienne Grundy by holding yourself out as such on your Instagram application with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015.”
The charge against Omogbe read: “That you OMOGBE JUSTICE, aka JULIENNE GRUNDY on or about the 8th day of July, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, engaged in the disguise of the true source of the aggregate sum of $550 (five hundred and fifty United States Dollars), which sum you knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 (1)(d) and punishable under Section 18(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment, etc) Act, 2004.”
While Nwanze was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of N50,000, Justice was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of N100,000.
Their devices, along with the restitution of N300,000 made by Justice, were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
