April 20, 2024

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday and Thursday April 17 &18, 2024 secured the conviction and sentence of 20 internet fraudsters before Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.

This is contained in a statement by the agency on Saturday.

The convicts are: Blessing Daniel, Kingsley Okoroafor, Amos Ohwofa, Eromosele Victory, Oba Nicholas Destiny, Lucky Osaro, Edema Emmanuel John, Obazee Precious, Akinyemi Seun, Ufumwen Victor, Enoch Ehigiator, Adurotimi Olakunle Justin, Oserei Clinton and Oserei Abraham.

Others are Obazee Gabriel, Richard Godfrey Obazee, Ricard Israel, Paul O. Endurance, Destiny Ajimi and Ejiwe Blessing Julius

They were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents upon arraignment by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The charge against Ajimi reads:
That you Destiny Ajimi (M) on or about 4th April, 2024 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 read together with 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The charge against Julius reads: “That you Ejiwe Blessing Julius(M) on or about 4th April, 2024 in Benin City, Edo State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contain a false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 read together with 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them in court, prompting the prosecution counsel, F. A. Jirbo. I.K Agwai and K.Y. Bello, 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 they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Ikponmwonba on April 17, sentenced the trio of Ohwofa, Daniel and Julius to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each while Akinyemi Seun bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000. Justice Ituseli convicted the trio of Eromosele Victory, Obi Nicholas Destiny and Lucky Osaro to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each while Kingsley Okarafor, Destiny Ajimi and Edema Emmanuel John bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

On Thursday April 18, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted 10 of the defendants – Precious, Victor, Ehigiator, Justin, Clinton, Abraham, Gabriel, Obazee, Israel and Endurance to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

The judges ordered the convicts to forfeit their phones, laptops, balances in their various bank accounts and three vehicles – Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and a Toyota Camry being instruments and proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. All the convicts are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ road to the prison began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Command of the Commission based on actionable intelligence regarding their involvement in computer- related fraud.