The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters, Al-Mustapha Isah Gupa and Qareeb Adekunle Yusuf, before Justice I.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the EFCC said the convicts were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation and cyber-related cheating.
Yusuf, who operated under the alias “Teddy Swims”;, was accused of deceiving several victims through a fake Facebook profile.
According to the charge, he defrauded unsuspecting persons of a total of $200 between January and April 2025 by pretending to be the American singer Teddy Swims.
His conduct violated Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017 and was punishable under Section 309 of the same law.
Gupa, on his part, posed as “Ritchie Inman,”; a fictitious white man, to defraud members of the public via Facebook in April 2024. He was charged under Section 142(1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017.
Both men pleaded guilty to the charges. Following their pleas, EFCC counsels M.U. Gadaka and M. Arumemi urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. The defence, however, pleaded for leniency, citing the remorse shown by the convicts.
Justice Isiaka sentenced Yusuf to three years imprisonment with an option of N400,000 fine, and ordered the forfeiture of $200, as well as an iPhone 11 Pro Max used in the crime, to the Federal Government.
Gupa was similarly sentenced to three years imprisonment or a N150,000 fine, and forfeited an iPhone 15 Pro Max, also used in committing the offence.
According to the EFCC, Yusuf was arrested at the Command Junction area of Kaduna, while Gupa was picked up at Bafra Hotel within the metropolis.
