Rita Odafe
An individual, Courage Ikpaka, has been given a two-year prison sentence by the Federal High Court in Lagos for deceiving an American citizen, Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson, out of $53,000 while posing as the popular Nigerian musician, Flavour N’abania.
On Tuesday, September 3, Judge Dehinde Dipeolu found Ikpaka guilty after he pleaded guilty to two charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC’s prosecutor, Suleiman Suleiman, presented evidence with EFCC investigator Azibagiri Dan Ekpar testifying against the defendant. During the trial, Ekpar revealed that Ikpaka pretended to be Flavour and promised to organize events in the United States, receiving payments through Bitcoin wallets.
The fraudulent activities were uncovered following a complaint submitted by Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun on behalf of the victim, Mrs. Thompson.
“After inviting Flavour for questioning and establishing his innocence, our investigation led us to Courage Ikpaka in Benin City as the perpetrator. Ikpaka confessed to impersonating Flavour and receiving $53,000 from an American in 2021. He converted the funds into Naira in his bank account, from which 7.9 million Naira was recovered through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.”
Following Ikpaka’s admission of guilt and a review of the evidence, Judge Dipeolu sentenced him to two years in prison or a fine of N2 million.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered 7.9 million Naira to Mrs. Thompson.
The charges against Ikpaka read in part:
“That you, IKPAKA COURAGE in April 2021 in Lagos, falsely represented yourself as Nigerian entertainer ‘Chinedu Okoli a.k.a. Flavour N’abania’ on your Telegram Account, with the intention of deceiving and obtaining financial gain, thereby violating Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.
That you, IKPAKA COURAGE in April 2021 in Lagos, unlawfully retained $53,000 in your Access Bank account, which you reasonably knew to be proceeds from dishonest activities, thereby violating the Money Laundering Act, 2022.”
