The Edo State Excessive Courts sitting in Benin Metropolis have convicted and sentenced 29 web fraudsters to varied jail phrases on the Correctional facility.
Justices A.N. Erhabor and W. I. Aziegbemhin handed the decision in opposition to the defendants, in keeping with an announcement by the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) on Thursday.
The convicts are: Edeyibo Rukewe Hope, Igbafe David, Emakhu Bonfrey, Genesis Ndujifor, Okolosie Godstime, Chukwu David, Ebuka Emmanuel, Akhere Akahomhen, Odiniru Emeka Vet, Obiora Mike Kelvin, Stephen Eghosa, Osagioduwa Samuel Aivihenyor, Fortunate Ekhator, Ekechukwu Chima Stanley, Fortunate Moses, David Odiniru, Christopher Alex, Orovirie Sunny, Abraham Ifeanyi and Aisosa Vincent.
Others are: Agbede Shola Harrison, Endurance Ebalukpe, Igbiniken Osarvmwense, Okonoboh Senator Odiegie, Joseph Imhangbegbe, Orion Aigbona, Godstime Adebor, Ambrose Otsemeuno and Mattew Obayuywana.
EFCC Allegations
The convicts have been arrested in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent web actions.
The EFCC charged every of the defendants individually on a one-count cost, bordering on acquiring by false pretence, advance price fraud, retention of proceeds of crime, and alleged possession of fraudulent paperwork.
The rely in opposition to one in all them reads: “That you simply Edeyibo Rukewe Hope (m) on or concerning the twenty seventh of February, 2025 inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket did have in your possession, paperwork which you knew or must have identified contained false pretence, thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 6 and eight (b) of the Advance Payment Fraud and different Fraud Associated Offences Act 2006 and punishable below Part 1(3) of the identical Act.”
What transpired in court docket
Based on EFCC’s assertion, all of the defendants pleaded “responsible” to their fees once they have been learn to them.
- The prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, Okay Y. Bello, Isa Okay. Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah, and Salihu Ahmed, prayed the court docket to convict and sentence them accordingly.
- However the protection counsel pleaded for mercy, highlighting that his shoppers have turn out to be remorseful for his or her actions.
How The Decide Dominated
- Ruling on the matter, Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Hope, David, Bonfrey, David, Emmanuel, Akahomhen, Sunny, Ifeanyi, Vincent, Otsemeuno, Ebalukpe, Harrison, Osarvmwense, Odiegie, Imhangbegbe, Aigbona, Adebor and Obayuywana to 2 years in jail every or a effective of N200, 000, respectively.
Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and “sentenced Ndujifor and Godstime to 2 years imprisonment every or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) effective, respectively. The choose slammed Kelvin, Eghosa, Aivihenyor, Ekhator, Stanley, Moses, Osarvmwense, Vet, and Alex to 2 years imprisonment, every or to pay N400,000 (4 Hundred Thousand Naira) effective respectively.”
The choose additionally ordered “the forfeiture of a Purple Shade Mercedes Benz C300 with Registration quantity BEN258CM recovered from Odiniru Emeka Vet being proceeds of crime to the Federal Authorities of Nigeria.”
Moreover, all of the convicts have been ordered to forfeit all gadgets recovered from them, together with telephones, computer systems, cash, and automobiles.
They have been directed to undertake in writing to be of fine behaviour going ahead.
Extra Insights
This case underscores the EFCC’s ongoing crackdown on web fraud.
- In a earlier warning, the company alerted Nigerians to rising issues over web fraudsters carrying firearms and fascinating in ritual killings, amongst different legal actions.
- The EFCC additionally mourned the lack of one in all its officers, Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC (ASE II) Aminu Sahabi Harisu, who was killed on January 17, 2025, whereas monitoring a suspected web fraudster, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu.
On March 7, the Edo State Excessive Court docket accredited jail phrases for 21 web fraudsters.
