Popular TikTok artist Crown Uzama, aka Shallipopi, was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.
The Kaduna Regional Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) convicted Shalllipopi and five others on Friday, June 23.
They were arraigned by Justice A. Isiaka on a charge bordering on criminal passing off.
According to EFCC prosecutors, the offenses violated Sections 142 (1), 57 and 308 of the Kaduna Penal Code 2017 and are punishable under Section 309 of the Act.
Uzama (aka Sharipippi and Miller Maxwell) with Fewo Chidiogo Emmanuel (aka Kate Banks), John Joseph aka Evar Hollywood, Joel Cato (aka Alfred Hudson), Abdul Aziz Suleiman Temidayyo (aka Katie Official) and Bertel Maku Okkuku, also known as Violet Martinez, was convicted. Makuochukwu was convicted of money laundering two weeks ago.
They both pleaded guilty to the charges.
Prosecution lawyers ME Eimonye, M. Arumeni, MU Gadaka and KS Ogunlade urged the court to convict them accordingly.
Judge Isiaka convicted and sentenced the defendants to two years in prison each, with an option to fine them.
Additionally, they will confiscate to the Federal Government of Nigeria all electronics, furniture and other items recovered from them.
According to the intelligence received by the command, the accused was arrested at various locations in Kaduna.
The EFCC revealed that its investigation found they were posing as foreigners and using false identities to deceive unsuspecting victims.