By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Simon Amobeda of a Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has convicted one Abasifreke Israel Eton and sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment for offences that border on impersonation and identity theft.
The convict was arraigned on one count criminal charge by the Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the prosecutor, the convict was arrested on December 11, 2020, by operatives of the Uyo Zonal office of the Commission, at Mping Street behind Tropical, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Investigation revealed that the convict paraded himself on social media as a female American citizen, residing in Miami by name Angie Veronica and Shannon Brandos.
He claimed to be part of the management team of Angie Brandos, a non-existent company created to provide sexual pleasures to its clients.
The offence committed by the convict is contrary to Section 22(2), (3)(a) of Cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under sub Section (4) of the same Act.
After hearing the charge preferred against him, Eton pleaded guilty to the one count charge and was convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by the court.
The court however gave him an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
Justice Amobeda also ordered that the convict forfeit the iPhone 11 Pro Max used in committing the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
