Undergraduate, mother, girlfriend jailed N370.2 million scam

A Computer Science student of the University of Port Harcourt has been convicted and imprisoned alongside his mother and girlfriend for internet-related fraud.

Gift Kenneth, his mother, Dora Animam, and girlfriend, Dandy Spice Igwe, were all arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Agbor, Delta State last year.

Justice F.A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta last week found them guilty of one count charge each bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

The trio conspired to defraud an American lady, identified as Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson, of an estimated N370.2 million ($902,935).

Using the false identity of Raymond Carl Eric, Kenneth proposed to the Texas-based victim an infrastructural investment project , convincing her to send the sum through bank accounts of various third parties.

Animam was found guilty of aiding the crime, receiving some of the fund through two bank accounts registered in her name.

Duplex recovered from the convicts [EFCC] Pulse Nigeria

The defendants pleaded guilty to their respective crime, and mother and son were sentenced to five years' imprisonment each, or a fine of N3 million.

Igwe was sentenced to two years' imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

The court ordered that all the items found on the defendants be forfeited and restituted to the victim through the American embassy.

This includes a Mercedes Benz CL250, Mercedes Benz 300, iPhone 11 Promax, iPhone XX Max, Apple Mac book Pro, 2 Apple Mac book devices, N4 million found in Kenneth's bank account, twin 4-bedroom uncompleted duplex in Asaba, N4 million cash found on Kenneth, and $ 4,255 recovered from his contractor.