Man bags three years behind bars for impersonating CBN governor

The accused was arraigned by the EFCC

A Nigerian man has been sentenced to three years in prison for impersonating the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele,

The offender, Nwalozie Julius was sentenced at a federal high court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state without an option of fine, according to Breaking Times.

The convict was arraigned by the Uyo zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a one-count charge, bordering on impersonation and obtaining N4.5 million. by false pretence.

Nwalozie’s journey to jail began on December 6, 2019, when he was arrested “based on reliable intelligence on the activities of internet fraudsters, operating in Owerri, the Imo state capital”.

“Upon arrest, the convict confessed to the crime and forensic analysis of the HP laptop recovered from him further implicated him as several incriminating documents of false pretence and fraudulent extortion were printed from his laptop which he also admitted, emanated from him,” the EFCC said in a statement.

The one-count charge against the convict reads: “That you, Nwalozie Onyebuchi Julius (alias Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria) on or about 26th day of August 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently impersonated one Dr. Godwin Emefiele, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria by using email address: emefielegodwin586@yahoo.com, with intent to obtain money, property or any advantage from one Omar Deep and other unsuspecting persons, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Provision, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”

Although the accused pleaded guilty to the charge, the pieces of evidence the prosecution tendered against him were enough to earn him a sentence.

Haliru Bagudo, an operative of the EFCC, stood as a witness for the prosecution and provided the pieces of evidence.

Consequently, Abolarin prayed the court to invoke section 274 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA and convict the defendant in view of the evidence adduced and the plea of the defendant.

Breaking Times