The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of 17 internet fraudsters before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, Enugu.
The defendants are Ohazuruike Christian, Emeli Ikenna, Echebiri Ifeanyichukwu Victor, Echefulam Uche, Augustine Dimgba Ikeoha, Orji Patrick Onyebuchi, Egwu Collins Somto and Echezona Emmanuel Nwoye.
Others include Ameh David Owenchochi, Tasie Henry Nzube, Ene Ndukaku Chinwendu, Innocent Chukwuemeka, Onyebuchi Victor Okwaodu, Ikeja Eyerinbi, Chukwu Miracle, Emmanuel Murewa and Ejike Prince.
They were arraigned on Thursday November 11, 2021on separate one count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences.
The charge preferred against one of defendants reads, “That you, ECHEBIRI IFEANYICHUKWU VICTOR, sometime in July,2021 in Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, fraudulently impersonated one MARILYN GUTLERVEZ from Los Angeles, through your fake Facebook account, with the intent to obtain money from unsuspecting foreign nationals by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes(Prohibition ,Prevention, Etc )Act 2015”.
Justice Buba convicted and sentenced fifteen of them to one year imprisonment each with an option of One Million Naira fine. They are also to forfeit their mobile phones to the Federal Government. Ohazuruike Christian was however sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of Five Hundred Thousand Naira fine. He is also to forfeit an Infinix mobile phone to the Federal Government.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
