The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained the conviction of popular TikTok music celebrity, Crown Uzama, and five others on charges of criminal impersonation. The conviction was secured before Justice A. A. Isiaka on a one-count charge, which is in violation of Sections 142(1), 57, and 308 of the Kaduna Penal Code Law, 2017, and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.
Crown Uzama, also known as Shalli Popi and Miller Maxwell, was convicted alongside Joel Kator, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman Temidayo, Favour Chidiogo Emmanuel, John Joseph, and Bethel Makuochukwu. Notably, Makuochukwu had previously been convicted of money laundering.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges presented by the EFCC. Subsequently, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to convict them accordingly. Justice Isiaka handed down a two-year prison sentence to each defendant, with the option of fines. Additionally, the court ruled that all electronic gadgets, furniture, and other items seized from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The arrest of the defendants took place at various locations in Kaduna based on intelligence received by the EFCC. Investigations revealed that they engaged in impersonation of foreign nationals and used false identities to defraud their victims.