FG seizes N9 million cash, exotic cars from convicted fraudster Stephen James

The Kaduna High Court on Thursday ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung S20, 3 HP laptops, three exotic cars and N9.5 million cash belonging to a convict, Stephen James, to the federal government.

Delivering judgment, Justice Dairus Khobo sentenced James to 10 months’ imprisonment with an option of a N300,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to internet-related fraud.

Earlier, the EFCC counsel, P.C. Oyeneho, told the court that the convict was arrested following actionable intelligence about the activities of syndicates of fraudsters operating in Ungwan Sarki and its environs.

Mr Onyeneho said on receiving the report, the investigation revealed that Mr James, using a fraudulent Instagram page as ‘David Richard’, an American Army officer in the U.S., struck up a friendship with Ryan Frank, one of his victims.

He said the convict defrauded Mr Frank N8 million between 2023 and 2024.

The prosecution added that the convict used some of the money he got from the fraudulent activities to buy a Mercedes Benz C1300 2016 model, a Toyota Lexus E350 and Lexus E330 model and N9.5 million in cash was found in his possession.

He noted that the offence is punishable under the provisions of the advance fees fraud.

Following the plea of Mr John and his extrajudicial statements, the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case and tendered the statements of the phones, HP laptops, and the cars recovered from him at the point of arrest as evidence. Mr Onyeneho urged the court to convict Mr John in line with his plea and the exhibits tendered before it.

(NAN)