The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Command, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Shehu Khalifa before Justice Abdul Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
He was jailed after pleading guilty to one – count charge bordering on internet fraud and impersonation, consequent on his arraignment by the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC.
The charge reads, “That you Shehu Khalifa “M” (21 yrs) sometime between January, 2021 and January 2023 in Makurdi Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently impersonated one Lucas Smith a Bitcoin investment expert through your nicegram account ID 5694273106 and Facebook account Realkhaleefa and obtained the sum of R$4,000 (Four Thousand Brazilians Real) from one Miss. Andrea, a Brazilian National and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. Following his plea, Justice Dogo convicted and sentenced Khalifa to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only). The convict also forfeited his iPhone 13 Pro Max and Redmii phone used in committing the crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Khalifa’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when he was arrested by operatives of the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC, for internet-related offences. He was prosecuted and convicted
