Two young Nigerians, Al-Mustapha Isah Gupa and Qareeb Adekunle Yusuf, who cheated unsuspecting Nigerians via Facebook, falsely presenting themselves as Teddy Swims, have been convicted.
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured the conviction and sentence of both men. They were arraigned before and sentenced by Justice I. A Isiaka of the State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge, bordering on cheating and impersonation.
The charge against Yusuf reads “That you Qareeb Adekunle Yusuf (a.k.a Teddy Swims) (M), between January and April, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, cheated several unsuspecting victims of the total sum of $200.00USD (Two Hundred US Dollars) when you falsely presented yourself as Teddy Swims, on Facebook (an online social media application), and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
That of Gupa reads: “That you, Al-Mustapha Isah Gupa (a.k.a Ritchie Inman) on or about the 20th of April, 2024 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Ritchie Inman (a white man) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, cheated unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
They pleaded “guilty” to their charge when it was read to them, prompting prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka and M. Arumemi to pray the the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Isiaka sentenced Yusuf to three years imprisonment or to pay N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited $200.000 (Two Hundred Thousand US dollars) as well as an iPhone 11 Pro Max, being the tool of his crime, to the federal government.
Gupa also bagged three years imprisonment or to pay N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) fine. In addition to his jail term, he forfeited his iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was the tool of his crime, to the federal government.
Gupa was arrested in Bafra Hotel, while Yusuf was picked up at Command Junction area, all in Kaduna metropolis.
