Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna, has convicted and sentenced three individuals—Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide, and Solomon Joseph Christian—for fraud.
They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
The charge against Hassan reads: “That you, Aliyu Hassan (a.k.a. Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni), on or about the 9th of February, 2026, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni (a citizen of Brazil) via Facebook, and in such assumed character, defrauded one Kerry of the sum of ₦90,000.00 (Ninety Thousand Naira only), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under the same law.”
Olamide’s charge reads: “That you, Samuel Olamide (a.k.a. Johnny), on or about the 9th of February, 2026, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Johnny (a citizen of the United States of America) via TikTok, and in such assumed character, defrauded one Jackie Sanders (an American), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under the same law.”
Christian’s charge reads: “That you, Solomon Joseph Christian (a.k.a. Jenort), sometime in February 2026 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Jenort via Facebook (a social media platform), and in that assumed character benefited the sum of $150 (One Hundred and Fifty Dollars), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under the same law.”
All three defendants pleaded guilty, following which the prosecution counsel, M.U. Gadaka, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Justice Isiaka subsequently convicted and sentenced them to five years’ imprisonment each or, in the alternative, to pay a fine of ₦300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) each.
In addition to the sentence, Hassan forfeited ₦90,000.00 and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 mobile phone (IMEI No. SM-N9500), being the proceeds of his crime. Olamide forfeited a Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone (IMEI No. 35198153052814), being the instrument of his crime, while Christian forfeited an iPhone 14 Pro (IMEI No. 35771267218661) and the sum of $150, being the proceeds of his crime. All forfeitures are to the Federal Government.
The convicts were arrested in the Agwa Kudende area of Kaduna following credible intelligence linking them to fraudulent internet activities. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.
