The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has convicted one Henry Nathaniel Ekanem, a final-year undergraduate student at the University of Port Harcourt.
Ekanem was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment by Justice A.T. Mohammed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for his involvement in internet fraud .
In a statement shared on its official X.com page and on their website, the anti-graft agency confirmed Ekanem’s sentencing on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
The EFCC's Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate had arraigned Ekanem on seven charges, including obtaining money under false pretenses and impersonation.
Ekanem, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was accused of using deceptive tactics to impersonate prominent figures and defraud his victims through social media platforms.
According to the EFCC, Ekanem posed as Coran Capshaw, the manager of American singer Chris Stapleton, through WhatsApp and Instagram, successfully deceiving victims like Diana Roskov and others.
He fraudulently obtained sums from his victims by falsely representing himself as a high-profile manager in the entertainment industry.
One of the specific charges stated: "That you, Henry Nathaniel Ekanem, on or about 17th September 2024, at Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Twenty-Two United States of America dollars ($22) from Diana Roskov by falsely representing yourself as Coran Capshaw, manager of singer Chris Stapleton—a representation you knew to be false—and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act 2006."
Upon his guilty plea, the prosecution, led by counsel A. Abubakar, presented evidence and witnesses which the court admitted as exhibits.
Subsequently, the prosecution urged the court to convict Ekanem. Defense counsel F.T. Fred-Boufini did not object to the conviction but appealed for leniency, highlighting Ekanem's status as a first-time offender with no prior criminal history.
Justice Mohammed sentenced Ekanem to two years on each of the seven charges, with an option for Ekanem to pay a fine of N200,000 per count.
Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of all mobile devices recovered from Ekanem, which were classified as proceeds of crime. Ekanem is also required to submit an affidavit of good behavior to the court.
Ekanem’s involvement in internet fraud first attracted EFCC attention in September 2024, leading to his arrest in Choba, Port Harcourt, and his subsequent trial and conviction.
