Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 11 (eleven) internet fraudsters to jail.
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 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.
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.
