The Judge, however, gave him a option of N2 million fine, adding that he should also forfeit the sum of N7.9 million to his victim
By Kehinde Okeowo
A federal high court sitting in Lagos has sentenced one Courage Ipaka to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of impersonating Afrobeats singer, Chinedu Okoli, better known as Flavour and defrauding an American lady.
Ipaka allegedly claimed to be Flavour while transacting a business worth $53,000 with a United States-based lady, Yvelte M. Thompson.
While making his case before the judge on Tuesday, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) investigator, Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, who led the probe against Ipaka, claimed the defendant promised to organise shows in America and received payment from the victim through his Bitcoin wallets.
ALSO READ: Ighalo blasts Nigerians mocking Osimhen over failed transfer to Chelsea, Al Ahli
Nigerian-Canadian arrested over call for mass killing of Nigerians
He went on to say following a petition received from one Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and others on behalf of the victim, “We invited Flavour who claimed innocence of the allegations.
“Upon investigation, we discovered that one Ipaka Courage who lives in Benin City was the perpetrator. The defendant admitted in his statement that he impersonated Flavour by obtaining $53,000 from a woman who is a United States citizen in 2021.
“He wired the funds through Bitcoin wallets and converted them into his Access Bank account where he received the value in Naira.
“The sum of N7.9 million was recovered from the defendant through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.”
After hearing from both parties, the presiding judge, Dehinde Dipeolu, sentenced Ipaka to two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N2 million.
He is also to forfeit the sum of N7.9 million to his victim.
