Saturday, March 8, 2025 - At least 21 Internet fraudsters have been jailed in Benin, Edo state.
The conviction was secured by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The 21 internet fraudsters were arraigned before Justices A.N. Erhabor
and W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Courts, sitting in Benin City.
The convicts are: Eimuen Nathaniel, Ighagbon Anderson Andy, Precious
Aigbokhai, Divine Ebosetale Okhitie, Ekpekurede Valour, Akuson Sunday,
Oshoikpor Joshua, Onumegu Chukwuebuka Emmanuel, Sylvester Oseokoedion, Osifor
Kenneth, Abraham Eromosele, Aliu Sanusi Aliu.
Others are: Donald Emuen, Oseghale Paris, Amavu Paul, Godsent Omokhoa,
Omere Osabvohien Love, Stephen Edetalen Obhanoghor, Segun Nelson Owoyele,
Emmanuel Essence and Oriarewoh Divine Eronmonsele
They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on
obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of
fraudulent documents.
The charge against Eimuen Nathaniel reads: "That you Nathaniel (m)
on or about the 14th 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.”
All the defendants pleaded “guilty” to their charges when they were read
to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K Y. Bello, Isa K.
Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah and Salihu Ahmed to
pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while counsel to the
defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that
they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Love, Valour, Sunday, Oriarewoh
Eromosele, Okoedion, Omokhoa and Kenneth to two years imprisonment, each or to
pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while he
slammed Obhanoghor, Okhitie and Paul with three years imprisonment each or
to pay N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Owoyele and Esence to
two years imprisonment each or to pay N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira)
and N600, 000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.
He slammed Andy, Aigbokhai, Joshua and Emmanuel to two years
imprisonment, each or to pay N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine
respectively, while Nathaniel, Abraham Eromonsele, Aliu and Paris bagged two
years imprisonment or to pay N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, while
Emuen bagged three years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N600,000 (Six Hundred
Thousand Naira).
In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their
phones, computers and money, found in their respective bank accounts to
the federal government of Nigeria 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 intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
0 Comments