Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 26 internet fraudsters to prison.
According to the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the 26 individuals were convicted and sentenced on Tuesday, October 17 and Wednesday, October 18, 2023 respectively.
EFCC gave the convicts names as follows; Pius Innocent Joel, Dortimi Obiagullu Abariowei, Okocha Nduka, Cloud Godspower Aghogho, Wilson Ifeanyi Nwabor, Ogbemudia Wisdom and Orubure Michelle Cyril.
The names also include Sunday Victor, Akpevwe Edogheji, Emmanuel Omezi Chiedu, Sambo Doubra, Ogribi George Oworo, Success Oghenekevwe Jerry and Ebuka Ohika Okoli.
Others are Nnemeka Joseph Nnajiofor, Adesioye Ajibola, Omojewe Solomon, Azubudike Emeka Kelvin, Clever Afokoghene Oliver, Favour Ighoatudu and Favour Ogagaoghene Ebebemore.
Abariowei Godwin Preye, Eserruoma Bishop Blessing, Miracle Ogonnaya, Agholor Omobude Simeon and Destiny Emuejevoke complete the 26 individuals.
The law enforcement agency said they were arraigned separately on one-count charge of unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command.
The charge against Jerry reads: “That you Success Oghenekevwe Jerry on or about 1st August 2023 in Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known containeed false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of same Act.
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsels: F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, KY Bello, IK Agwai, Salihu Ahmed and A.A. Ibrahim, to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, the defence counsel prayed the court to temper justice with mercy “as the defendants were first time offenders who had been remorseful for his actions.”
EFCC further disclosed that Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Joel, Abariowei, Aghogho, Victor, Edogheji, Aworo and Doubra to three years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
It also said Solomon, Ajibola, Nnajiofor, Okoli, Preye, Ogonnaya, Simeon, Emuejevoke, Ighoatudu and Ebebemore were convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of same fine (N200,000).
Similarly, the judge sentenced Nduka, Nwabor, Wisdom, Cyril, Chiedu, Jerry, Blessing and Oliver to three years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira), while Kelvin bagged two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) fine.
The Commission revealed that Preye is to forfeit the sum of N3,123,112.49 (Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Twelve Naira, Forty Nine kobo) found in his bank account.
In the same vein, Ighoatudu and Blessing are to forfeit their Mercedes Benz cars to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
It noted that the convicts are to forfeit their mobile phones and monies found in their bank accounts during investigations – being proceeds and instruments of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Commission.
Meanwhile, EFCC stated that the convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested based on actionable intelligence of the Commission regarding their involvement in internet-related activities, hence they were charged to court and convicted.
