Justice H.L Abba-Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi, Abuja Wednesday convicted and sentenced one Praise Humphrey Igbo (a.k.a) Jessica Allen to one year imprisonment for fraud.
A press statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes
(EFCC) Head Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said he was prosecuted by the commission on a one-count charge, bordering on internet crime, criminal impersonation, obtaining money under false pretence and money laundering to the tune of $115,000.
His charge reads: “That you, Praise Humphrey Igbo sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, did cheat by pretending to be one Jesisca Allen, a successful crypto currency trader in the United State of America and in that assumed character, fraudulently obtained 5.26 Bitcoins worth $115,000 by false pretence, property of Aaron Baker, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Abuja, Cap 532 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.”
He said Igbo pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him, upon which prosecution counsel, M.K Hussain, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
The spokesperson said Justice Abba-Aliyu convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment or to pay a fine of N1 million.
“She further ruled that the sum of $16, 110 and $67,487.79 worth of cryptocurrency recovered from him and the money in his bank account be used to restitute his victim through the American Embassy,” Oyewale added.
