The Federal High Court in Kaduna has sentenced two internet fraudsters to prison terms with options of fines for various cybercrime offences. Justice Rilwan Aikawa handed down the sentences to Samuel Ezekiel Godfrey and Yahaya Mustapha after they pleaded guilty to separate one-count charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Godfrey, who operated under the alias Dixon Kelvin, received a two-year prison sentence with an option to pay a fine of N500,000. He was convicted for using a fake Facebook profile to fraudulently obtain N191,580 from victims in Bida, Niger State, earlier this year. His actions violated Section 22(2)(b)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Mustapha, who posed as "Mike Benjamin" and claimed to be an American citizen, was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine. He defrauded victims of $100 via Facebook in April 2025, contravening the same sections of the Cybercrimes Act.

During the trial, prosecution counsel M.U. Gadaka urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly after they both pleaded guilty to the charges. Defense lawyers for the convicted fraudsters requested leniency, citing their clients' remorse.

In addition to the prison terms, Justice Aikawa ordered Godfrey to forfeit the N191,580 he obtained illegally and the iPhone used in committing the crime to the Federal Government. Similarly, Mustapha was ordered to surrender his iPhone 14 Pro and to restitute the $100 to his victim.

According to court records, both men were arrested by the EFCC in Bida Local Government Area following credible intelligence about their fraudulent internet activities. The commission continues to warn the public against engaging in cybercrime and urges vigilance in online transactions.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat the rising tide of internet fraud and cybercrime in the country, with the EFCC intensifying its operations against perpetrators.