Kaduna, July 9, 2025 — Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court has convicted and sentenced one Zeal Abraham to two years imprisonment for impersonation and internet fraud involving $200. The conviction followed a one-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate.
Abraham, who operated under the alias Chris Mitchell, was found guilty of cheating one Laura Moss by posing as a musician on an online social media platform known as Zangi. He defrauded his victim of $200, which he falsely obtained through deceit.
The charge against him read in part:
“That you, Zeal Abraham (a.k.a Chris Mitchell), sometime in 2025 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, cheated one Laura Moss of the total sum of $200 USD… when you pretended to be Chris Mitchell; a musician on ‘Zangi’, which you knew to be false…”
Upon arraignment, Abraham pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecuting counsel, M.E. Eimonye, to urge the court to convict and sentence him without delay.
Justice Bello accordingly sentenced the convict to two years in prison or an option of ₦400,000 fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Samsung G9355 mobile phone, used in the commission of the crime, and the $200 fraudulently obtained, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convict was among a group of suspects apprehended on Sabo Post Office Road in Kaduna, following credible intelligence received by the EFCC on suspicious cyber activities in the area.
This ruling is part of the Commission’s continued efforts to clamp down on cybercriminals across the country and serve as a deterrent to those involved in online scams and impersonation.