Calabar Court Sends Two Fraudsters to Jail
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, Wednesday, May 20, 2026
The Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, secured the conviction and sentencing of two internet fraudsters before Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State.
The convicts, Ike Eusta-Prince Eziomume and Victor Pius Nnaegbo, were arraigned on separate two-count charges bordering on money laundering offences. They both pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Commission.
One of the charges against Eziomume stated that he, sometime between 2024 and 2026 within the jurisdiction of the court, took possession and control of $200 and €260, knowing same to be proceeds of unlawful activities, specifically obtaining money by false pretence, in violation of Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Similarly, the charge against Nnaegbo alleged that he, within the same period and jurisdiction, took possession and control of €530, also knowing it formed part of proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the same provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
Following their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel Khamis Mahmud urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsel Douglas Besong did not oppose the prosecution’s application but pleaded for leniency.
After reviewing the case, Justice Oghoghorie convicted both defendants and handed down sentences. Ike Eusta-Prince Eziomume was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a ₦500,000 fine and ordered to restitute $200 and €260 to his victims.
Victor Pius Nnaegbo also received a two-year jail term with an option of a ₦1,000,000 fine and was ordered to refund €530 to his victim.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of all gadgets used in committing the offences.
According to court records, the convicts were arrested on May 5 and May 12, 2026, in Umuahia and Aba areas of Abia State, before being charged to court and subsequently convicted.
