A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State has convicted and sentenced a professional footballer, Jacob Wisdom Chukwuemeka, to six years imprisonment, for offences bordering on internet fraud and possession of fraudulent funds.

Chukwuemeka, who was arraigned by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was convicted on Monday, October 3, after pleading guilty to two-count charges bordering on possession of fraudulent funds.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Jacob Wisdom Chukwuemeka between 6th May 2021 and 22nd April 2022 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did retain the control of the gross sum of N792,454.00 in your bank account domiciled with First Bank Plc which you knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 (a) and (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004”

In his judgment, “Justice Muhammed Sani sentenced Chukwuemeka to three years imprisonment on count one and two respectively, which are to run concurrently. He was, however, given an option of fine of N792,454.00 on count one, and N300,000 on count two.

The iPhone 11 he used to commit the crime and a draft of N250,000 were forfeited to the Federal Government.

In addition, the court ordered the convict to restitute his victim, the sum of N524,454.00 being the balance of the proceeds of his fraudulent dealings against him.”