Eleven internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to jail by Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City.
The convicts are Izomor Samuel Efe, Nosakhare Bright, Emovon Destiny, Vincent Arogbo, Osarentin Morgan Aduwa, and Osagiede Destiny Oghosa.
Nosakhare Ernest Theophilus, Junior Emmanuel Efe, Osimen Princewill, Obamedo Clinton and David Iyobor complete the 11 convicts.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), they were prosecuted by its Benin Zonal Directorate 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.”.
EFCC revealed that 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.
It noted that 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 N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, each. Destiny and Arogbo also bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, each.
“Aduwa, Oghosa, Theophilus, Junior Efe, Princewill, Clinton and Iyobor, were slammed with three years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (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 anti-corruption agency stated.
The Commission disclosed that the convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by its operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
