A 23-year-old plumber, Precious Donald and four others have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms by Justice M. Itsueli of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City for internet fraud.
Others are Amos Onakpofure, Chukwunekwu Nwadei, Gabriel Okpotor and Chibueze Nmezi.
The convicts’ journey to prison began following their arrest by operatives of Benin Zonal Command based on intelligence on their nefarious activities.
They were subsequently arraigned on separate one count charges bordering on possession of proceeds of crime, false representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents, an offence contrary to Sections 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment) Act ,2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act.
The charge against Nmezi reads: “that you, Chibueze Nmezi sometime between 17th January, 2011 and 26th May, 2023 in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the control of the aggregate sum of N54,892,991:85 ( Fifty- four Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety -one Naira, Eighty – five Kobo) in your First bank account number 3046225570 on behalf of Uchechukwu Anyanwu knowing that same represent the proceeds of criminal conduct of the said Uchechukwu Anyanwu and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment) Act ,2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act.
Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the prosecution counsel, Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first time offenders.
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Nmezi, Onakpofure, Nwadei, Okpotor to three years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira as fine while Donald, bagged two years imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira as fine.
The judge ordered that a Mercedes Benz ML350 and mobile phones recovered in the course of investigation and proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC.
The bank account used as an instrument of crime is to be closed, while the convicts undertake in writing to be of good behaviour.
