Court jails 23 internet fraudsters in Edo

No fewer than 23 internet fraudsters have been convicted and sentenced to different jail terms by the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City. 

This was disclosed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying the sentencing took place between April 11 and 17, 2025.

ALSO READ: EFCC: Court jails eight internet fraudsters in Akwa Ibom 

The EFCC, in a statement, shared via its official social media account on X affirmed that the journey of the convicts to the Correctional Centre started with an arrest in a sting operation conducted by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate after intelligence uncovered their fraudulent activities.

According to the statement, Justices W.I. Aziegbemhin and A.N. Erhabor of the Edo state court sitting in the said location had convicted and sentenced the internet fraudsters. 

The statement reads, “The convicts are: Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, David Ogwunu, Jude Okólie, Lucky Ehizojie, Chineye Isioma Christian, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Uzodion Luke and Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere.

“Others are Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Ajayi Aisosa, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah and Ojimah John Oseni.”

The convicts were indicted on one count, separate charges revolving around “obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.”

Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu’s charge states, “That you Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu (m) on or about the 12th of April, 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.”

Following this, all the defendants, according to the anti-graft agency, pleaded “guilty” to the charges read against them, which caused the prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, to pray to the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. On the other hand, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to mete out justice with mercy, highlighting that they have become remorseful for their deeds.

The statement further reads, “Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Chinonso Peter Iwuchukwu, Jude Okolie, Obadiunor Josoph Ikechukwu, Ugochukwu Adingwu, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, Patrick Chinedu Chukwujekwe, Ugboh Chibuzor, Monday Shedrack, Udochukwu Onuka, Ehighola Emmanuel Akhere, Godstime Osunde Oskpolor, Promise Onyugboh, Onuka Patrick, Aiwansoba Prince, Goddey Jeremiah, Ojimah John Oseni to two years imprisonment each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while the duo Chineye Isioma Christian and Uzodion Luke were sentenced to Three Years Imprisonment each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively.”

Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin, on the other hand, convicted and sentenced “Uzorchukwu Peace Udoka, Erubasa Oghenetega, Ajayi Aisosa to two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively. The duo of David Ogwunu, Lucky Ehizojie were convicted and sentenced to Three Years Imprisonment each or to pay N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively.” 

Additionally, they wrote an undertaking to be well-behaved thereafter Also, proceeds of crime, such as their phones, computers and money in the bank, were forfeited to the Federal Government.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE