The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, through Justice H.L. Abba-Aliyu.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Igbo on a one-count charge of internet fraud, criminal impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
The case originated from a petition by Aaron Bakker, an American, who alleged that Igbo impersonated Jessica Allen, a fictitious cryptocurrency investor, and defrauded him of $115,000 in Bitcoin via Blockchain.com. Igbo had promised Bakker a lucrative investment opportunity that turned out to be fraudulent.
The charge against Igbo stated:
“That you, Praise Humphrey Igbo, sometime in 2022, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud, did cheat by pretending to be Jessica Allen, a successful cryptocurrency trader in the United States of America, and in that assumed character, fraudulently obtained 5.26 Bitcoins worth One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($115,000) by false pretense, property of Aaron Baker, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Abuja, Cap 532 LFN 2004, and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.”
Igbo pleaded guilty to the charge. The EFCC counsel, M.K. Hussain, requested his conviction and sentencing.
Justice Abba-Aliyu sentenced Igbo to one year in prison, with an option of a ₦1 million fine. The court also ordered that $16,110 in cash, $67,487.79 worth of cryptocurrency, and funds in Igbo’s bank account be used to restitute the victim through the American Embassy.
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Opeoluwa Benson – Content Researcher
