The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentencing of Jeremiah Emmanuel who paraded himself as Johnny Depp on Hangout and one Abubakar Kabiru before Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court.
The defendants were prosecuted on one and two counts respectively.
The charge against Emmanuel reads, “That you, Jeremiah Emmanuel (aka Johnny Depp), between May and June 2022 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, attempted to commit an offence and in such an attempt did a certain act towards the Commission of the said offence, to wit; falsely presented yourself as Johnny Depp ( a Hollywood celebrity in the United States of America) to one Jitka Krumlovà on ‘Hangout’ ( an online social media application) in order to cheat her and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 57 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law”.
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One of the counts on which Abubakar was jailed, reads; “That you, Abubakar Kabiru, sometime in July, 2019 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did pretend to be Debra Gibson ( a female living in the United States of America) when you knew you were not and in such assumed character cheated one James Edward, an American citizen of the sum of Two Hundred United States Dollars ($200 USD), when you claimed that you were in love with her and to engage her in a romantic relationship and you 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”.
They pleaded guilty to the charges. In view of their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, N. Salele, urged the court to convict the defendants accordingly.
Justice Khobo convicted and sentenced Emmanuel to 3months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 while Abubakar bagged N100,000 fine on counts one and two or 3 months imprisonment in the event that he fails to pay the fine.
The court ordered that the defendants restitute their victims in the sum of $200 and $300 respectively through the US Embassy.