Edo: 17 internet fraudsters convicted by Benin courts

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction and sentencing of 17 alleged internet fraudsters before Justices A.N. Erhabor and W.I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Courts.

During a sitting in Benin City, the culprits were prosecuted on separate charges of fraud, retention of criminal proceeds, and possession of fraudulent documents.

The convicts were prosecuted following their arrest in a sting operation conducted by the operatives after intelligence uncovered their fraudulent activities.

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According to the EFCC, they are: “Ekene Ezerioha, Ayeleso Ayodeji Richard, Prince Unity Igbinekaro, Marvelous Adebor, Osayande Oseh, Chukwuebuka James Edozie, Clinton Osayi Okojie, Chinedu Ugwu Kingsley, Emmanuel Ezeala, Isioma Christopher, Adebayo Ayomide, Ubaro Best, Junior Oboh, Chieye Goodluck, Lucky James Isioma, Jeremiah Okwuezuru Nwadiashi, and Destiny Grace.”

At the sitting, different charges were read against them. For Ekene Ezerioha, “That you Ekene Ezerioha (m) on or about the 14th of March, 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 committing 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.”

According to a report on X, formerly Twitter, all defendants pleaded guilty to the charges, leading prosecution counsels F.A. Jirbo, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah, and Salihu Ahmed to urge the court for conviction and sentencing. Meanwhile, defence counsels pleaded for mercy, arguing that the defendants were remorseful for their actions.

Justice Erhabor sentenced Igbinekaro, Adebor, Oseh, Edozie, Okojie, Christopher, Best, Nwadiashi, and Grace to two years in prison or a fine of N200,000 each. Richard, Kingsley, Ezeala, Goodluck, and Isioma received a three-year sentence each or the option to also pay the N200,000 fine.

On the other hand, Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin sentenced Oboh, Ayomide, and Ezerioha to two years in prison each or a fine of N400,000.

Following their sentences, they were all required to forfeit their phones and other valuables to the federal government and pledged to be well-behaved subsequently.

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE