A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Courage Ipaka to two years in prison for impersonating singer Flavour.
Ipaka allegedly used Flavour’s identity to defraud Yvette M. Thompson, a woman based in the United States, of $53,000.
The investigation, led by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigator Azibagiri Dan Ekpar, revealed that Ipaka had promised to organize shows in America and received payments from the victim through his Bitcoin wallets.
The investigation began after a petition was filed by Eyitayo Tolulope Abiodun and others on behalf of the victim.
During the probe, Flavour was invited and denied any involvement in the scam.
“Upon investigation, we discovered that one Ipaka Courage who lives in Benin City was the perpetrator. The defendant admitted in his statement that he impersonated Flavour by obtaining $53,000 from a woman who is a United States citizen in 2021.
“He wired the funds through Bitcoin wallets and converted them into his Access Bank account where he received the value in Naira.
“The sum of N7.9 million was recovered from the defendant through Zenith and Access Bank manager’s cheques.”
Judge Dehinde Dipeolu sentenced Ipaka to two years in prison, with the option to pay a N2 million fine instead.
Additionally, he ordered the forfeiture of N7.9 million to Thompson.