By Habeeb Ibrahim
A Lagos Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe, has sentenced Nonso Joseph Ekeocha to one year in prison for possessing fraudulent documents tied to a romance scam. The sentence was delivered after Ekeocha pleaded guilty to a one-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ekeocha had used a fake Instagram account, posing as an American named “Ronald Gregory,” to deceive victims online in a romance scam. According to the charge, Ekeocha knowingly possessed fraudulent documents, including the Instagram profile, with the intent to defraud.
EFCC operative Ismail Saifullahi testified that Ekeocha was arrested on June 29, 2024, along with others suspected of internet fraud. Items seized during the arrest included an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a Samsung S-10, both of which were forensically analyzed. The investigation confirmed his involvement in the scam, where he sent deceptive messages to victims, soliciting money.
In court, Ekeocha pleaded for leniency, expressing remorse and a commitment to abandoning online fraud. Justice Abike-Fadipe handed him a one-year sentence, allowing for an option of a ₦500,000 fine and 50 hours of community service. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered devices to the Nigerian government.
