Operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have announced the arrest of seventeen (17) suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City, Edo State.
The 17 suspects were nabbed on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
According to EFCC, the suspects are; Unvive Tegwolo, Imemesi Daniel, Ojo Osa Tohanmwen, Olise Godspower Ikenna, Kadiri Eric and Yakubu Aliyu Izegwire.
The suspects also include Omozuafo Collins, Elect Osayuwa, Destiny Ewere, Ayodele Eugene and Eric Onwusiweka.
Okeke Benjamin, Imanah Destiny, Kenneth Anyenibie, Uriel Ogwuezi, Prince Joshua and Ibeje Daniel complete the 17 individuals.
The Nigerian law enforcement agency said that they were arrested at their hideouts in different locations, following actionable intelligence on their nefarious activities.
It also revealed that items recovered from them include different exotic cars, phones and laptops, adding that they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
In a related development, Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, convicted and sentenced a man identified as Gabriel Ohaohakara to one-year imprisonment for $30,000 crypto investment fraud.
EFCC stated that the convict perpetrated the scam by creating a fake investment website, britishtradelimited.com, and a telegram channel for the same purpose.
However, he was jailed on Thursday, October 12, 2023 after pleading guilty to a one-count charge bordering on cryptocurrency fraud, upon being arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“That you, OHAOHAKARA GABRIEL, on or about the 24th November, 2022 in Lagos, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession document containing “Crypto Currency Fraud Activity” and other related documents for an online fraudulent activity which you knew to be false,” the charge against him reads, maintaining that ‘the offence is contrary to Sections 6, 8 (b) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud.’
Similarly, he pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to him and following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Akhanolu Ikhuoria Godsent, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Meanwhile, delivering judgment on Thursday, October 12, 2023, Justice Abike-Fadipe convicted and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira only) and 1000 hours of community service.
The Judge also ordered that the iPhone 13 pro max recovered from him be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, while the sum of $30,000 (Thirty Thousand Dollars) be restituted to the victim.
EFCC said Ohaohakara’s journey to the Correctional Centre started when he created a fake investment website, britishtradelimited.com, and a telegram channel for the same purpose.
It also stated that investigation revealed that a syndicate of fraudsters, sometime in August 2021, sent a message on Telegram with the pseudo name, British Trade Limited, to one Adilio Pizzolo, a Brazilian, offering an investment opportunity in British Trade Limited.
Consequently, Pizolo, who later became the victim, had created an account on British Trade Limited as well as an account in a Brazilian bitcoin broker called “Foxbit” through which he was able to convert Brazilian Reals to bitcoin.
Pizolo was then made to deposit approximately $30,000 worth of bitcoins to an address provided by the suspect during a live chat that was integrated on the fictitious ‘British Trade Limited’ website.
Elsewhere, the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned an individual named Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold) before Justice A.A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna.
Simon was arraigned on Monday, October 16, 2023 for defrauding an American; Garri Kalish, the sum of $800 (Eight Hundred Dollars only).
EFCC disclosed that the offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act – adding that Simon was arraigned on two-count charges bordering on cybercrime.
One of the counts against Simon reads: “That you, Sunday Simon (a.k.a Ryan Eggold, male, sometime in April 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of $800 (Eight Hundred United States dollars) from one Garri Kalish, a citizen of the United States of America under the pretence of being into a romantic relationship, a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the two charges and in view of his plea, prosecution counsel K. Ogunlade prayed the court for a trial date, and the remand of the defendant at the Kaduna Correctional Centre.
Meanwhile, defence counsel, K.S Istifanus, made an oral application for bail which was opposed by Ogunlade.
Upon hearing both counsels, Justice Isiaka adjourned the matter till October 24, 2023, for hearing of bail application, and thereafter ordered the remand of the defendant at the Kaduna Correctional Centre.
EFCC pointed out that Simon was arrested by operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC at Agwa, Trikania in Kaduna in a sting operation.
It further mentioned that in the course of investigations, Simon’s mobile phone was analysed which revealed different fake Instagram and Facebook accounts, where he presented himself as an American actor, Ryan Eggold in his chats with unsuspecting women.
