A Lagos court has convicted and sentenced Kelechi Declan James to three years’ imprisonment for impersonation after he pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, delivered the sentence on 9 October 2026. James was found guilty on a single count of impersonation filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Commission.
The charge stated that on or about 9 September 2026, in Lagos, James fraudulently presented himself as one David Hernandez on his Facebook account with the intention of obtaining an advantage for himself. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
According to the petition that led to the investigation, the complainant said that in December 2024 James approached him and claimed to have Nigerian business partners who required foreign currency exchange services. James allegedly persuaded the complainant to source and transfer a total of one hundred and thirty five thousand dollars, equivalent to two hundred and one million, one hundred and sixty five thousand, eight hundred and forty three naira and fifty kobo, into an account he nominated.
The complainant further stated that although James acknowledged receipt of the funds, he failed to pay the agreed naira equivalent or return the dollars. All attempts by the complainant to recover the money were unsuccessful.
When the charge was read in court, James pleaded guilty. Prosecuting counsel S. I. Suleiman outlined the facts of the case and asked the court to convict and sentence the defendant.
Justice Osiagor sentenced James to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a fine of three hundred thousand naira. The court also ordered him to perform three days of community service as part of the sentence.
By John James
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