A Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Lagos, Nigeria has sentenced Braveness Ipaka, an impersonator of fashionable Nigerian musician Flavour, to 2 years in jail for defrauding a U.S.-based lady of $53,000.
Nigeria’s Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) led the investigation into Ipaka’s actions, following a petition filed by Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and different involved events on behalf of the sufferer, Yvelte M. Thompson.
The EFCC’s lead investigator, Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, detailed the case in court docket on Tuesday, outlining how Ipaka posed as Flavour, promising to organise music exhibits in the USA in trade for cost.
In keeping with Ekpar, Ipaka obtained the funds from Thompson via Bitcoin transactions, which have been subsequently transformed into Naira and deposited into his Entry Checking account.
The investigation revealed that Ipaka, who resides in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, had efficiently orchestrated the rip-off in 2021, capitalizing on Thompson’s belief.
“The defendant admitted in his assertion that he impersonated Flavour, acquiring $53,000 from a lady who’s a United States citizen. He wired the funds via Bitcoin wallets and transformed them into his Entry Checking account the place he obtained the worth in Naira,” Ekpar said throughout the court docket proceedings.
In the course of the course of the investigation, the EFCC managed to get better N7.9 million from Ipaka via Zenith and Entry Financial institution supervisor’s cheques, which the court docket ordered to be forfeited to the sufferer, Thompson.
In his ruling, the presiding choose, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, condemned Ipaka’s actions and sentenced him to 2 years imprisonment.
Nonetheless, the court docket supplied an possibility for Ipaka to pay a positive of N2 million as an alternative of serving the jail time period. Moreover, the recovered N7.9 million will likely be returned to Thompson as a part of the restitution.