The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully obtained the conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters.

The convicts are Omachile Gabriel also known as Priest Tamara Shane, and Micah Njawindumai, alias Edgar David, Oldmangt, Professional Hacker.

Justice J.K Dagat of the Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri jailed them on a one-count separate charge bordering on money laundering.

The count against Gabriel reads: “That you, Commander Omachile Gabriel (alias Priests Tamara Shane) with National Identification Number (NIN): 86288294866 on or about the year 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of sum of about $30.00 (Thirty United State of America Dollars) only being the value of multi-crypto which you reasonably ought to have known that the funds form part of proceeds of an unlawful act of impersonating Priestess Tamara Shane and thereby commit an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

Both convicts had pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them and based on their pleas, the EFCC Counsel, Faruk Muhammad prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Dagat sentenced them to four years imprisonment each. He ordered that the sum of $30.00 (Thirty United States Dollars) recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the victim through the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He also ordered that other items recovered from the convicts, phones of different brands, laptops and others should be forfeited to the government.

The convicts, who were charged and convicted, bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested for internet-related offences.