Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has handed down convictions and sentences to 37 individuals involved in the impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.
Among them, Silvar Meche Uzoeto (aka William Parker) has been sentenced to one year in prison for his crimes, violating Section 22 (2) (b) (i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same section of the Act.
On Wednesday, July 13, 2023, Uzoeto pleaded guilty to the one-count charge brought against him by the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge detailed his possession of fraudulent documents, including a false pretence email sent to Jenni Reed, an American citizen, where he represented himself as a white American named William Parker. His intent was to deceive and gain an advantage for himself, thus violating the Cybercrimes Act.

Following the defendant’s guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Dr Ben Ubi, requested the court to convict and sentence Uzoeto accordingly. The defendant’s counsel, M.M. Suleiman, did not oppose the prosecution’s request but urged the court to consider showing mercy.
Justice Ajoku proceeded to convict Uzoeto and sentenced him to one year in a Correctional Centre. Alternatively, he was given the option to pay a fine of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00), payable into the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Furthermore, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the iPhone 13 Pro Max mobile phone, Redmi 11, and Dell Laptop recovered from the convict to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Uzoeto’s arrest took place in June 2023 during a sting operation conducted by EFCC operatives at Golf Estate in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The investigation revealed his involvement in Dating Scam activities and the creation of 32 fake Gmail accounts used for his illicit trade.
This conviction serves as a significant achievement in the fight against Yahoo scams, highlighting the commitment of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies in Port Harcourt to combat cybercrimes and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
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