A federal high court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ipaka to two years in prison for impersonating popular singer Flavour and defrauding a woman in the United States out of $53,000.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ipaka used Flavour’s identity to promise the victim, Yvelte M. Thompson, that he would arrange shows in America and received payments from her via his Bitcoin wallets.
The EFCC investigation, led by Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, revealed that Ipaka converted the funds into his Access Bank account and received the value in Naira. The sum of N7.9 million was recovered from Ipaka through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.
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In his ruling, Judge Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Ipaka to two years in prison, with the option of paying a fine of N2 million. The court also ordered the forfeiture of N7.9 million to the victim, Thompson.
The case was initiated following a petition from Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and others on behalf of Thompson, which led to the invitation of Flavour, who denied any involvement in the case.
