Gafara, Kazachang, Faruk, and Oyibo were tried before Justice Aikawa for offences bordering on impersonation and cybercrime. Akang was arraigned before Justice Isiaka for theft of N1 million

By Titilope Adako

Five individuals have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justices R.M. Aikawa and A. Isiaka of the Federal and State High Courts in Kaduna over cybercrime and financial fraud offences.

The convicts—David Dawaza Gafara, Abraham Emmanuel Kazachang, Muhammed Umar Faruk, Aliyu Ibrahim Oyibo, and David Eddy Akang—were arraigned on separate one-count charges by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gafara, Kazachang, Faruk, and Oyibo were tried before Justice Aikawa for offences bordering on impersonation and cybercrime. Akang was arraigned before Justice Isiaka for theft of N1 million.

According to a statement by the EFCC on its official X handle, all five pleaded guilty to the charges. They were convicted and handed varying prison terms in accordance with the law.

EFCC’s statement reads in part, “Justices R.M.Aikawa and A. Isiaka of the Federal and State High Courts, respectively, sitting in Kaduna have convicted and sentenced the quintet of David Dawaza Gafara, Abraham Emmanuel Kazachang, Muhammed Umar Faruk, Aliyu Ibrahim Oyibo and David Eddy Akang to jail for financial crimes.

“They were prosecuted by Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a separate one-count charge.
While Gafara, Kazachang, Faruk and Oyibo were prosecuted before Justice Aikawa for offences that border on impersonation and cybercrime, Akang was dragged before Justice Isiaka for theft to the tune of N1million.

“They all pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, following which prosecution counsel M.U Gadaka and Moses Arumemi prayed the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

“Justice Aikawa sentenced Gafara and Kazachang to three years imprisonment or to pay N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, Gafara forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S10 while Kazachang forfeited iPhone 16 Plus, being the tools of their crimes to the federal government.”

“He convicted and sentenced Faruk to two years imprisonment or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPhone XS Max, a Tecno Pop 7 and Tecno mobile phone, being the instruments of his crime to the federal government.”

“He convicted and sentenced Oyibo to five years imprisonment or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition, he forfeited iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 and HP Spectre laptop computer, being the instruments of his crime to the federal government.”

“Gafara, Kazachang, Faruk and Oyibo were arrested in Rogota, Bida Local Government Area of Niger State, following actionable intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.”

“Akang on his part was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Isiaka or to pay N300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.”

“His road to jail was paved by the petition of one Okafor Nnenna Susan to the Commission, alleging that the convict, being her boyfriend, stole her father’s ATM card as well as hers and fraudulently withdrew sums of money from her account. Investigation by the Commission revealed that Akang withdrew the sum of N1million from the petitioner’s bank account through a PoS vendor.”

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