Courts Jail Five for Fraud in Kaduna, Another Charged in Lagos for Alleged Possession of Counterfeit $4,350
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of five internet fraudsters before Justices R.M.Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna and D.H Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
The convicts are, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani), Samson Adeoye Iyangbe (a.k.a Trans Anna Bella), Bashir Kashim (a.k.a Hannah Barron) Merenini Ekene and Yakubu Musa.
While Yohanna, Iyangbe, Kashim and Ekene were prosecuted before Justice Aikawa on a separate one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents, obtaining by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime, Musa was prosecuted before Justice Khobo on amended one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N3million.
The charge against Yohanna reads: “That you, Henry Kyasi Yohanna (a.k.a Alessandra Bondani) male, sometime in 2023 in Jos, Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, falsely presented yourself as Alessandra Bondani; a white woman on Facebook and Telegram (which are online social media applications) and in that assumed character gained advantage for yourself the total sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200.00), which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv) of the same Act.”
The charge against Musa reads: “That you Yakubu Musa sometime in 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly misappropriated a certain property to wit: the total sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) only, property belonging to Thalmon Friday, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 1999 and punishable under Section 308 of the same Law.”
They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel, K.S Ogunlade, F.A.I Asemebo and M. Lawa prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that their clients have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice R.M.Aikawa convicted and sentenced Yohanna to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition he forfeited the sum of $200.00, being proceeds of his crime, one Redmi 13c phone and one Dell laptop computer being tools of his crime to the federal government.
Iyangbe bagged five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira ) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $15.00 (Fifteen United StatesDollars), being the proceeds of crime and one Gionee phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.
Kashim was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment or to pay N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited the sum of $500.00 (Five Hundred United States Dollars) being the proceeds of crime, one iPhone 14 pro Max mobile phone and one Samsung A14 mobile phone, being the tools of his crime in favour of the federal government.
Ekene on his part, bagged five years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his Techno Smart 4 mobile phone, being the tool of his crime to the federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yohanna and Iyangbe were arrested in Jos, Plateau State, while Kashim and Ekene were arrested in Minna, Niger State following actionable intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Justice Khobo sentenced Musa to one year imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) In addition, he is to restitute his victim the sum of N3million (Three Million Naira).
According to Dele Oyewale, EFCC head, Media & Publicity,
Musa’s road to jail began following his victim’s petition that in 2014 that he, Musa, being his inlaw informed him that there is a plot of land at Mahuta area of Kaduna State for sale at the cost of N3million, of which he became interested and transferred the money to him. While Musa never bought the land, all efforts to recover the money from him proved abortive.
Also in Lagos, the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, arraigned one Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju on a four-count charge bordering on alleged currency counterfeiting before Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. Olanrewaju is facing trial for alleged possession of 98 pieces of $50 USD, totaling $4,350 USD
One of the counts reads: “That you, Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju (Male), adult, sometime in January, 2025, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession 21 pieces of counterfeit $50 USD (Fifty United States Dollars) bank note, totaling $1,050 (One Thousand and Fifty United States Dollars), with serial numbers MB61754676C, MB61754979C, MB61754988C, MB61754449C, MB61753319C, MB61753235C, MB61753885C, MB61754732C, MB61754432C, MB61754435C, MB61753868C, MB61753216C, MB61753103C, MB61753126C, MB61753124C, MB61754037C, MB61753352C, MB61753866C, MB641753346C, MB61753352C and MB61753363C, knowing the same to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 5 (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C35, Laws of the Federation Of Nigeria, 2024.”
Another count reads: “That you, Moshood Mustapha Olanrewaju (Male), adult, sometime in January, 2025 in Lagos State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, had in your possession 26 pieces of counterfeit $50 USD (Fifty United States Dollars) bank note totaling $1,300 (One Thousand Three Hundred United States Dollars), with serial numbers MB61753344C, MB61753471C, MB61753133C, MB61753302C, MB61753228C, MB61753812C, MB61754665C, MB61 753138C, MB61753851C, MB61753272C, MB61753782C, MB61753115C, MB61753470C, MB61753888C, MB61753898C, MB61754441C, MB61753833C, MB61753872C, MB61754437C, MB61753367C and MB61754675C knowing the same to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 5 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 5 (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024.”
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Zeenat Atiku, asked for a trial date and also urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS. pending the commencement of trial.
The defence counsel, in his response, asked the court for a short date to enable him file a bail application on behalf of his client
Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter till June 9, 2025 for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Correctional Service.
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