Court jails 15 internet fraudsters in Benin City

Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 15 individuals for internet fraud.

A statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, said the verdicts, delivered between November 18 and 20, imposed various jail terms on the offenders.

“The convicts are Egbai Jude, Diamond Aliza, Ugochukwu Chijindu, Oboh Isaac, Olabode Bright, Ngbakor Godstime Oghechi, Agbi Paul, Amadin Samuel and Imade Nelson Ikponwonmwosa.

Others are Osasenge Eguavoen Daniel, Emeka Ebube, Friday Edosa Elijah, Alfred Stanley Godbless, Ifeanyi Amadi Omote and John Ogheneyole, ” the statement said.

The defendants faced separate one-count charges brought by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. These charges involved offences such as obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.

One of the charges against Egbai Jude read: “That you Jude Egbai (m) on or about the 30th of October, 2024 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.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges, leading prosecution counsel F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, and Salihu Ahmed to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Defence counsel appealed for leniency, emphasizing the remorse shown by the accused.

“On Wednesday, November 20, Osasenge Eguavoen Daniel, Emeka Ebube, Friday Edosa Elijah, Alfred Stanley Godbless, Ifeanyi Amadi Omote and John Ogheneyole were convicted and sentenced by Justice Erhabor to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).

On Tuesday, November 19, Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Imade Nelson Ikponmwosa to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

Justice Erhabor on Monday November 18 convicted and sentenced Egbai Jude, Diamond Aliza, Ugochukwu Chijindu, Oboh Isaac, Olabode Bright, Ngbakor Godstime Oghechi, Agbi Paul, to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each while Amadin Samuel bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of one Red Lexus 2005 ES350 recovered from Ugochukwu Chijinda, one Lexus RX350 2010 model recovered from Emeka Ebube, one Mercedes Benz Glk 350 2010 model from Friday Edosa Elijah, one Mercedes Benz C300 2012 model from Alfred Stanley Godbless and one RX350 2010 model from Omote John Ogheneyole being proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.

The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began following their arrest by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC through a sting operation owing to their involvement in fraudulent internet activities, ” the statement added.