A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced two internet fraudsters, Emmanuel Wisdom and Donald Etege, to two years imprisonment each for impersonation and obtaining money under false pretense. Justice S. Pam handed down the verdict on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on separate one-count charges.

– Donald Etege was accused of obtaining $1,500 from Lisa Ricks by pretending to be a Bitcoin trader.
– Emmanuel Wisdom, also known as Sam Freidrich, was accused of obtaining $1,200 from Tony Grozdan by pretending to be a cryptocurrency trader.

Both defendants pleaded guilty, and Justice Pam sentenced them to two years imprisonment each or an option of fine of N200,000 payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the phones recovered from them, being proceeds of crime, and directed them to depose an affidavit of good behavior before the court.

This verdict is the latest in a series of efforts by the EFCC to combat internet fraud in Nigeria. Similar cases have been reported in the past, with convicted fraudsters receiving prison sentences and fines.