3rd September, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
A Kaduna man Manasseh Hamza Bello who took up the name of Domingos Pereira for purpose of committing fraud has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to one-count charge bordering on impersonation levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Bello was arraigned before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation, Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC said in a statement on Monday
The charge reads: “That you Manasseh Hamza Bello (a.k.a Domingos Pereira) (M), sometime in 2024 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, committed an offence, to wit: falsely presenting yourself as Domingos Pereira (a white man) on Facebook (an online social media application), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 142 (1) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017.”
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge upon which prosecution counsel, M.U Gadaka prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
The judge consequently convicted and sentenced him to five years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N 500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira). In addition to his jail term, he forfeited iPhone 13 Pro Max mobile phone with IMEI NO: 352569485316820, a Tecno PoP 8 mobile phone with IMEI No: 356514734081920, a golden-coloured Toyota Camry car with chassis no: 4T1BE46K770153516 and registration number: GWA-434-BQ and the sum of N2,127,000.00 (Two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand Naira) to the federal government.
Bello was arrested and prosecuted following intelligence on the fraudulent activities of a cybercrime syndicate operating within Barnawa, Kakuri and Television Garage axis of Kaduna metropolis.
