The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of Igho Agbana and Akarah Eloho Anthony,before Justice Shittu Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State.

The convicts, who were docked on a two-count charge of conspiracy and uttering of forged documents, were sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine on each of the counts.

Part of the statement signed by the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, also revealed that Justice Abubakar, ordered that the convicts return the sum of $12,000 to their victim from Hong Kong.

The statement explained that “the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), had petitioned the EFCC in June 2013, on behalf of the victim, accusing Agbana and Anthony of engaging in fraudulent activities. They conspired and uttered a forged Federal Republic of Nigeria driver’s licence with the name Prital S. Atwal, and used it to open accounts with a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) 1 located at 34B Allen Drive, Kosini, Warri, Delta State, to defraud their victim.”

One of the charges reads: “That you, Igho Agbana and Akarah Eloho Anthony on or about the 4th day of April 2013, at Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did conspire to commit felony to wit: uttering of a forged Federal Republic of Nigeria national driver’s license with the name Prital S Atwal and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004 and punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act.”

Another reads: “That you, Igho Agbana and Akarah Eloho Anthony, on or about the 31st day of August, 2010 at Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did utter a forged Federal Republic of Nigeria national driver’s license with the name Prital S. Atwal with the intent that First City Monument Bank PLC (FCMB), in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to open an account with the bank in the name of Pritam S. Atwal and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004 and punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act.”

Meanwhile, two suspected members of a syndicate involved in Internet fraud have been arrested by the EFCC.

The suspects, Arinze Ihekwo and Chinemelu Utaku, are to be arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged Internet fraud, email hacking and obtaining money by false pretence before the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State.