Gift Kenneth was sentenced to prison for scamming Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson, an American lady, out of $902,935.  On Thursday, Justice FA Olubanjo of the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, condemned him for online fraud-related offenses.

Kenneth was detained alongside his mother, Dora Animam, and his girlfriend, Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe, according to Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Benin Zonal Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission charged Animam and Igwe with one count each of impersonating and gaining by pretense.

Kenneth, posing as Raymond Carl Eric, is accused of lying to Henrichson of Texas, United States of America, about an infrastructure investment project in Agbor in 2018 and 2019, resulting in the money being transferred through various channels, including Shuaibu Abdullahi and Dora Animam’s bank accounts.

His actions are stated to violate Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, Etc) Act 2015, as well as Section 22 (2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.

On her own, Animam claimed to have received the funds through her Diamond and Access bank accounts. She was accused of receiving $166,000 from Henrichson and N27 million from Abdullahi, in violation of sections 27(1)(b) and 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime ( Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015, and punished under section 22 (2)(b)(IV).

They all pleaded guilty to the charge at their arraignment.

Francis. A. Jirbo, the prosecution’s lawyer, asked the court to convict and sentence the defendants based on their pleas.

Gift Kenneth and his mother, Dora Animam, were convicted and sentenced to five years in jail or a fine of N3 million each by Justice Olubanjo, while Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe was sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of N100,000.

Kenneth was found with a Mercedes Benz CL250, Mercedes Benz 300, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XX Max, Apple MacBook Pro, and two Apple Mac books.

In addition, a twin four-bedroom unfinished duplex in Asaba, as well as N4 million, were retrieved.

Henrichson was also reimbursed $4,255 by the US Embassy, which was collected from Kenneth’s contractor.