Kaduna court sentences fake FBI agent to 3 years in prison years in jail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that a High Court in Kaduna has sentenced a man named Solomon Eke to three years imprisonment for impersonation.

According to the EFCC, Justice Darius Khobo delivered the judgment after Eke was found guilty of impersonating an agent of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) using the alias “John Smith.”

The EFCC revealed in a post on its official Twitter handle, @officialEFCC, that the convict had operated a Facebook account under the name Kelvin James.

The impersonation came to light following an intelligence report, leading to the arrest of Eke and 24 other suspected internet fraudsters at Kurudu Phase 5, Abuja.

Impersonation is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of law enforcement agencies and can cause significant harm to innocent individuals.

The EFCC’s efforts to apprehend and prosecute individuals involved in such criminal activities demonstrate their commitment to combating fraud and protecting the public.

Justice Khobo’s verdict serves as a stern warning to those who engage in impersonation and other forms of online fraud.

It sends a strong message that such acts will not go unpunished and reinforces the importance of upholding the law and respecting the authority of legitimate agencies.

The EFCC continues to work tirelessly to combat cybercrime and financial fraud, employing various strategies to track down perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the public remains crucial in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in such illegal activities.

The statement read in part; “The defendant was arrested by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at Kurudu Phase 5, Abuja, alongside 24 others following intelligence on his alleged internet fraud-related activities.

“Investigation revealed that he operated a Facebook account with the name Kelvin James. Further investigation showed he impersonated an agent of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation by the name, John Smith.”

The charge sheet read; “That you, Solomon Eke (a.k.a Kelvin James) and others now at large, sometimes in July 2022 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this court, committed an offence to wit; falsely presented yourself as Kelvin James; a white man and a Trading Manager to several unsuspecting victims via ‘Facebook’ (a social media application) in a bid to lure them into love scam, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.”

The anti-graft agency added that the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was subsequently sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of N150, 000 fine and was to forfeit his iPhone 14 Pro Max phone to the Federal Government.