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Cybercrime/fraud

Apr 4, 2026

FRN vs Eze Harrison Arinze

Humans

Eze Harrison Arinze

Money bag

$592,000.00

Money bag

Case Summary
The accused was alleged to have fraudulently impersonated one Charlotte Brain a purported owner of digitrades, netxxxxxxxxxxxxxx investment platforms on telegram and in that assumed character obtained cryptocurrency worth the said sum from Coinbase exchange users, through his bitcoin address domiciled with Coinbase, a Virtual Asset Service Provider.

Calendar

0
Year(s) case tried in court

Gavel

Case Update
In view of the defendant’s plea, the trial judge thereafter convicted and sentenced him to three years imprisonment, with an option of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) fine. He added that 11.07 Bitcoins valued at $461,280.70 (Four Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Dollars, Seventy Cent) as to be restituted to the 34 victims from 13 countries as identified. Furthermore, the judge ordered that a total sum of N37,977,108.00 (Thirty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Eight Naira) domiciled in the convict’s bank accounts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including a plot of land located at plot No. 34 Anioma Layout, Umuchigbo Iji-nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State measuring approximately 1380.609 Squares meters.

Court house

Hon. Justice James K. Omotosho
Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja

Legislation

ACJA/ACJL Compliance - complied

Case Information
Eze Harrison Arinze
Presiding Judge & Designated Court
Hon. Justice James K. Omotosho, Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja
Nature and Number of Charges
1-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining under false pretense.
Date of 1st Arraignment
2023
Summary of Case
The accused was alleged to have fraudulently impersonated one Charlotte Brain a purported owner of digitrades, netxxxxxxxxxxxxxx investment platforms on telegram and in that assumed character obtained cryptocurrency worth the said sum from Coinbase exchange users, through his bitcoin address domiciled with Coinbase, a Virtual Asset Service Provider.
Defendant(s) and Plea entered on Arraignment
1. Eze Harrison Arinze – Guilty
Defence Counsel(s)
No defence counsel
Prosecuting Agency
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Prosecutor(s)
1. Christopher Mshelia (Lawyer)
Status of Case
Decided
Decision
Convicted
Length of Trial
0 year(s)
ACJA/ACJL Compliance
Complied
Court Decision
In view of the defendant’s plea, the trial judge thereafter convicted and sentenced him to three years imprisonment, with an option of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) fine. He added that 11.07 Bitcoins valued at $461,280.70 (Four Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Dollars, Seventy Cent) as to be restituted to the 34 victims from 13 countries as identified. Furthermore, the judge ordered that a total sum of N37,977,108.00 (Thirty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Eight Naira) domiciled in the convict’s bank accounts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, including a plot of land located at plot No. 34 Anioma Layout, Umuchigbo Iji-nike in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State measuring approximately 1380.609 Squares meters.