The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ikpaka to two years in prison for defrauding a U.S. citizen, Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson, of $53,000 by impersonating the Nigerian musician Chinedu Okoli, also known as Flavour N’abania.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu handed down the sentence on Tuesday following Ikpaka’s guilty plea to a two-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
During the trial, EFCC prosecutor Suleiman Suleiman presented evidence from EFCC investigator Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, who testified that Ikpaka impersonated Flavour, claiming he would organize concerts in the United States, and received payments through Bitcoin wallets.
Ekpar further explained that the fraud was uncovered after the EFCC received a petition from Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and others on behalf of the victim.
“We invited Flavour, who cooperated fully and denied any involvement. Our investigation eventually led us to Ikpaka Courage in Benin City as the perpetrator,” he said.
Ekpar continued, “Ikpaka confessed to impersonating Flavour and admitted to receiving $53,000 from a U.S. citizen in 2021. He transferred the funds through Bitcoin wallets and converted them to Naira in his Access Bank account.”
“Through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques, we were able to recover N7.9 million from the defendant,” he added.
After reviewing the prosecution’s evidence and the defendant’s guilty plea, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ikpaka to two years in prison, with the option of a ₦2 million fine. The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the recovered ₦7.9 million, which will be returned to Mrs. Thompson.
The charges in Counts 1 and 2 were as follows:
- “That you, IKPAKA COURAGE, in April 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly made a false statement by presenting yourself as Nigerian entertainer ‘Chinedu Okoli a.k.a. Flavour N’abania’ on your Telegram account, with intent to deceive and secure financial gains for yourself, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
- “That you, IKPAKA COURAGE, in April 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly retained the sum of $53,000 in your Access Bank account number 0108866415, which you ought to have reasonably known was proceeds of your unlawful activity—namely, the dishonest conversion of the said sum, property of Mrs. Yvelte M. Thompson—thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(G) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”