A judge sitting at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Justice I.O. Ijelu, convicted and sentenced one Anana Emeka to 16 years imprisonment for computer-related fraud.
This was made known in a statement shared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on their X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday.
The commission revealed that the case was related to the alleged criminal activities of Osondu Victor Igwilo, a leader of a criminal network known as “catcher.”
Igwilo had been on the watchlist of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2018 and was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in March 2022.
Emeka was initially arraigned on three counts but was subsequently re-arraigned on eight counts of amended charges that included possession of fraudulent documents, forgery, giving false information, and impersonation. He pleaded “not guilty” to these charges.
During the trial, the prosecution presented witnesses, including an FBI representative, EFCC investigation officers, and an EFCC forensic expert who analyzed the defendant’s mobile device. Several documents were also presented as evidence.
Emeka was found guilty on all eight counts with an option of a fine to be paid within 30 days, or he will serve the prison terms.
Furthermore, the judge ordered the forfeiture of Emeka’s items and property, including a Samsung Galaxy mobile device and the house located at 567, Road 21, Mayfair Garden Estate, Awoyaya, Lagos, to the Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of his victims.
Credit: X | officialEFCC
