The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Ezekiel Jesse to three months imprisonment before Justice Abdul Dogo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, Benue State for fraudulently re-directing electronic funds transfer to the tune of Seventy-Five Thousand Naira (N75, 000.00).
The convict was prosecuted on one-count amended charge. The count charge reads;
“That you, Ezekiel Jesse, on or about the 5th November, 2019, at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently re-direct electronic funds transfer from Account No. 6156047011 domiciled with FCMB Bank, issued to Wisdom Arugwu Lawrence and did obtain the total sum of Seventy-Five Thousand Naira (N75,000.00) Only, in different tranches of airtime recharge, by the use of electronic device and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 36(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under same Section of the Act”
He pleaded ‘‘guilty’’ to the charge preferred against him.
Upon his plea, the prosecution counsel, Mary Onoja reviewed the facts of the case and urged the Court to convict and sentence him as charged.
Justice Dogo, after listening to the prayers of both parties, convicted and sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment. The convict was however given an option of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) fine.