A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has sentenced one Praise Humphrey Igbo, also known as Jessica Allen, to one year in prison for internet fraud amounting to $115,000.
The judgment was delivered by Justice H.L. Abba-Aliyu on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.
Igbo was prosecuted on a one-count charge of internet crime, criminal impersonation, obtaining money under false pretenses, and money laundering.
According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Igbo deceived an American victim, Aaron Baker, by posing as “Jessica Allen,” a successful cryptocurrency trader.
The court was told that Igbo “fraudulently obtained 5.26 Bitcoins worth One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000) by false pretense,” an act described as contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Abuja, Cap 532 LFN 2004, and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.
Igbo pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting the EFCC counsel, M.K. Hussain, to request his conviction and sentencing.
Justice Abba-Aliyu sentenced Igbo to one year in prison with an option of a N1 million naira fine.
She also ruled that funds recovered from Igbo and money in his bank account, should be used to restitute the victim through the American Embassy.
