A Nigerian man, Dennis Tamarakuro has been convicted for defrauding a U.S.-based non-governmental organisation, Pregnancy Support Network, of $71,795.41.
He was charged and prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, delivered the judgment after Tamarakuro pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of cybercrime.
The charge stated that Tamarakuro, in December 2024, falsely represented himself as Keisha Reynolds, a U.S.-based private investor, and in that character obtained $71,795.41 from one Philbert via Bybit. The act contravened Section 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and is punishable under Section 22(2)(b)(iv).
Prosecution counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, called EFCC investigator, Ogunjobi Olalekan, who revealed that intelligence from the Jackson Township Police Department in the U.S. showed the NGO’s funds were diverted through a romance scam turned money mule scheme.
According to Olalekan, the stolen funds passed through intermediaries, including a suspect named Libson Junior, before being converted to cryptocurrency and traced to Tamarakuro’s Bybit wallet.
Upon his arrest, Tamarakuro admitted the allegations in the presence of his lawyer and made a voluntary statement under caution.
Investigations confirmed Tamarakuro received 0.27 Bitcoin twice from Libson Junior, later withdrawing $18,000 worth of cryptocurrency via Busha exchange.
The EFCC recovered $22,157.40 from Bybit and $20,121.41 from Busha, totaling over $42,000. The balance was blocked by a U.S. bank. Documents, including Tamarakuro’s statements and correspondence with the exchanges, were admitted as exhibits.
Justice Nwite sentenced Tamarakuro to one year in prison with an option of a N1 million fine, ordered the forfeiture of recovered funds to the victim, and directed the convict to swear an affidavit of good conduct.
Defence counsel, Laye Aeemokoya, pleaded for leniency, noting that Tamarakuro is a first-time offender, a father, and caregiver to his aged mother.
The conviction comes amid EFCC’s intensified efforts against fraud. In recent months, the Commission arrested Ahamba Tochukwu, CEO of Gavice Logistics Limited, accused of running a Ponzi-style scheme that allegedly defrauded over 400 investors of more than N2 billion.
Earlier this year, EFCC also arraigned Precious Williams, a director at Glossolalia Nigeria Ltd and Pelegend Nigeria Ltd, in connection with a N13.8 billion Ponzi scheme linked to Maxwell Chizi Odum of MBA Trading and Capital Investment Ltd, who remains at large.
