The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has sentenced Henry Mfon Asuquo, a military impostor, to eight years imprisonment on a two-count charge of impersonation.
Penpushing reports that, the Head, Media and Publicity, of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wilson Uwajaren in a statement said the convict faced cybercrime brought against him by the Uyo zonal office of commission.
The statement added that Asuquo’s journey to jail started on January 3, 2019, when operatives of the commission arrested him at Ayara Street, Nungu Uko in Ibesikpo Local Government Area of the State following a petition by one Itoro Tom.
Penpushing further reports that, that the agency said Tom alleged in her petition that Asuquo swapped her subscriber identification module, sim card, and fraudulently withdrew N700, 000 from her account domiciled at a new generation bank.
The agency said investigation into the matter revealed that the convict paraded himself as a military officer and in that capacity; he was going about intimidating and defrauding unsuspecting victims of their hard-earned money.
Penpushing also reports that, the commission said a search executed on his apartment upon arrest led to the recovery of military uniforms, boots and bullet proof jackets, adding that in the course of interrogation, he admitted to the crime and refunded the sum of N100,000 to the petitioner.
The statement said, he was subsequently arraigned on March 27, 2019, on a two-count charge bordering on fraud, impersonation and cybercrime, to which he pleaded “not guilty”, adding that in the course of trial, counsel to the commission, Adebayo Soares, presented two witnesses; Tom Itoro Edet (PW1- the complainant) and Suleiman Abba (PW2 – an operative of the Commission).
Penpushing reports that, Uwujaren said some of the exhibits tendered and admitted in evidence include: military kits containing several military shirts and trousers, Techno Spark 3 phone belonging to the convict and correspondences from the Nigeria Army and First City Monument Bank,( FCMB).
The agency spokesman said, the trial took a new turn on March 5, 2021 when the defence counsel, Dennis Adiaka informed the court of the convict’s intention to change his plea,adding that the application was granted and Asuquo pleaded “guilty” to the charge against him.
Penpushing further reports that, in her judgment, Justice Agatha Okeke sentenced Asuquo to 4years imprisonment on each of the two counts preferred against him to run concurrently without the option of fine.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay his victim a sum of N600,000 as restitution before he could be released from prison, stressing that, in addition, ordered the forfeiture of the items used in the commission of the crime, which were recovered from the convict at the point of arrest to the Federal Government.
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