A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has sentenced Praise Humphrey Igbo, also known as Jessica Allen, to one year in prison for internet fraud. Igbo impersonated a cryptocurrency trader and scammed $115,000 worth of Bitcoin from an American victim, Aaron Baker, in 2022.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Igbo with internet fraud, criminal impersonation, and money laundering. He pleaded guilty to the charges and opted for a plea bargain.
Justice H.L. Abba-Aliyu sentenced him to one year in prison, with an option of a ₦1 million fine. The judge also ordered the restitution of $16,110 and $67,487.79 in recovered cryptocurrency to the victim through the American embassy.
The fraud was uncovered after the victim reported being scammed on a blockchain platform by Igbo, who posed as a crypto investor. This conviction highlights the EFCC’s efforts to combat internet fraud in Nigeria.
