Joseph Bakare
The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of 15 internet fraudsters before Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City.
They were jailed between May 24 and May 30, 2024
The convicts are Gospel Emmanuel, Osayende Endurance Enaruna, Ede Festus Awuru, Divine Iyabosa Igbinosa, Apemiye David John, Sorinmade Seun, Godspower Miracle, Iboi Joshua Abraham, Precious Igbinosa, Japhet Odigie, Solomon Bright, Idama Francis, Odusan Ayo Nancy, Achi Emmanuel, Oghenetega Famous Ogbeni and Achi Kelly.
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 Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The lone-count charge reads: “That you EDE FESTUS AWURU on or about the 14th of Day of May, 2024 in Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or reasonably ought to have known contain false pretenses and misrepresentations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 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, prompting the prosecution counsel, F. A. Jirbo, I. M Elodi, I.K Agwai, K.Y. Bello and Ahmed Salihu and Bala Ribah to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy stressing that they have become remorseful for their actions.
Justice Ikponmwonba on Monday May, 24, 2024 sentenced Miracle and John to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each, Kelly bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 while Ogbeni was sentenced to community service.
On Monday May 27, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced the duo of Odigie and Igbinosa to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) each while Solomon Bright was sentenced to community service.
On Wednesday May 29,Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Sorinmade, Emmanuel, Nancy, Francis and Awuru to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000. Gospel Emmanuel was sentenced to community service. On Thursday May 30, 2024 Justice Ikponmwonba sentenced Igbinosa to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 while Endurance was sentenced to community service.
All the convicts forfeited their phones, laptops, balances in their various bank accounts being instruments and proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour afterwards
The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre 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.