PORT HARCOURT — The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced three internet fraudsters to a cumulative 90 months in prison for impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
Justices P. I. Ajoku and S. D. Pam handed down 30-month jail terms each to Rex Akah Kinikachi Kelvin, Kennedy Chinedu Eleyi-Waltar, and Chris Orji on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The trio was prosecuted by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges.
One of the charges revealed that Kelvin defrauded an American citizen of $500 via Telegram by posing as a U.S. fashion model. The offences contravene Section 1(2)(a) and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
All three defendants pleaded guilty. In response, EFCC prosecutors H. O. Nweze, N. A. Dodo, and M. Abubakar presented documentary evidence, which the court admitted. Defence counsel did not oppose the prosecution’s requests but urged the court to show leniency, citing the defendants’ status as first-time offenders.
The court sentenced each convict to 30 months imprisonment, with an option of a N200,000 fine. Additionally, the judges ordered the forfeiture of several items recovered during their
