Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 11 (eleven) internet fraudsters to jail.
The convicts are: Izomor Samuel Efe, Nosakhare Bright, Emovon Destiny, Vincent Arogbo, Osarentin Morgan Aduwa, Osagiede Destiny Oghosa, Nosakhare Ernest Theophilus, Junior Emmanuel Efe, Osimen Princewill, Obamedo Clinton and David Iyobor.
They
were
prosecuted by
the
Benin
Zonal
Directorate
of
Economic
and
Financial
Crimes
Commission,
EFCC on separate one-count
charges
bordering
on
obtaining
by
false
pretence, advance
fee
fraud, retention
of
proceeds
of
crime
and
possession
of
fraudulent
documents.
The charge against Efe reads: “That you Justice Samuel Efe (m) on or about the 8th of February, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”.
They
all pleaded “guilty” to
the
charges
when
they
were
read
to
them,
prompting
prosecution
counsel,
F.A
Jirbo,
I.K
Agwai
and
Salihu
Ahmed
to
ask
the
court
to
convict
and
sentence
them
accordingly,
while the
defence
counsel prayed the
court
to
temper
justice
with
mercy,
stating
that
they
have
become
remorseful
for
their
actions.
Justice
Aziegbemhin convicted
and
sentenced
Izomor Efe
and
Bright
to
two
years
imprisonment
or to
pay N200,000
(Two
Hundred
Thousand
Naira) fine,
each.
Destiny
and
Arogbo also bagged
two
years
imprisonment
or
a
fine
of
N400,000
(Four
Hundred
Thousand
Naira)
fine, each.
Aduwa, Oghosa, Theophilus, Junior Efe, Princewill, Clinton and Iyobor, were slammed with three years imprisonment or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, each.
In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers and sums of money seen in their bank accounts to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.
The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 20, 2025
Credit: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate