The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested 32 suspected for interment fraud in Bauchi State as it also secured the conviction of two others in Kaduna State.
In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency said the 32 suspects were arrested in Bauchi on Friday, July 25, 2025.
The suspects were arrested in Sabon Kaura and Gwalameji areas of Bauchi, Bauchi State capital following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Oyewale listed the items recovered from the suspects to include: nine Samsung mobile phones, 15 iPhones, one infinix phone, three Redmi phones, two iPads, one Peugeot 406 car, two Playstation 4, one PlayStation 5, four Neonx Auto bike, eight laptop computers, one Maxi E50KWH generator and one pistol.
He added that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The two internet fraudsters in Kaduna were convicted and jailed by Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court.
EFCC, in the statement, identified the jailed internet fraudsters as Stephen Ime Ibanga and Augustine Mmesoma Umunnabuike for fraud.
They were arrested in Kafanchan LGA and Mahuta axis of Kaduna State, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of EFCC, on separate one-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, cheating and impersonation.
Ibanga’s charge reads: “That you, Stephen Ime Ibanga (a.k.a James Armstrong) male, sometimes in March, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated James Armstrong (a citizen of United States of America) on ‘Facebook’ (an online social media application) and benefitted the total sum of N744,968.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty-four Thousand Nine Hundred and Six-eight Naira, only) from several unsuspecting victims and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
That of Umunnabuike reads: “That you, Augustine Mmesoma Umunnuabuike (a.k.a Demian) on or about the 16th of June, 2025 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Demian (a Korean national) via Facebook platform and in such assumed character, cheated unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017 and punishable under the same law.”
They both pleaded “guilty,” following which prosecution counsels, M.O. Arumemi and M.E.Eimonye urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Bello, thereafter, convicted and sentenced Ibanga to three years imprisonment or to pay N100,000.00 (One Hundred thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 15, being the tool of his crime and the sum of $USD70 (Seventy United States Dollars) and N744,968.00 (Seven Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-eight Naira), being the proceeds of his crime to the federal government.
He convicted and sentenced Umunnabuike to two years imprisonment or to pay N150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). In addition, he forfeited his iPhone 15 Pro, being the tool of his crime to the federal government.