No fewer than 10 individuals have been convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each for internet fraud in Benin City, Edo State.
This follows the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) securing their conviction and sentencing before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
The convicts are Okoro Emmanuel, Billwise James Dikoru, Enoma Osasumwen, Samson Festus, Godspower Afolorunikon, Omonle Godwin Damien, Sunday Uanseoje, Sylvester Iziren Udu, Ani Emmanuel Chuks, and Amilegbe Saviour.
According to the EFCC, they were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, advance fee fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The charge against Okoro Emmanuel reads: “That you, Okoro Emmanuel (m), on or about the 10th of September, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, on your iPhone 11 with IMEI Number 356867116691538, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 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 their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, K.Y. Bello and Isa.K Agwai to ask the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that the convicts had shown remorse for their actions.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced all of them to two years’ imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine.
All the convicts forfeited their mobile phones and laptop computers, being tools of their crimes, and money found in their respective bank accounts, being proceeds of the crimes to the Federal Government. They also undertook in writing to be of good behaviour going forward.
The Commission reiterated that the convicts’ journey to jail began with their arrest by operatives of its Benin Zonal Directorate following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities.
