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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, has convicted and sentenced two brothers, Teddy Ovbokhan Hart and Rooney Odion Hart, along with 10 others, for internet fraud-related offences.
Justice M. Itsueli delivered the judgment on Thursday, following their arraignment by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The other convicts are: Thompson Ogbeide, Iria Saturday Blessed, Igbinomwania Lucky Godspower, Ojiezele Felix, Akhigbe Gideon, Osazuwa Oghomwen, Agbonifo Iziegbe, Lucky Osagie, Osemwegie Efosa Michael and Victor Ojeisemi.
They were arraigned on separate one-count charges, bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and retention of proceeds of crime.
Their conviction followed their arrest by EFCC operatives in Benin, after credible intelligence linked them to fraudulent online activities. All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges.
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The EFCC counsel, I.M. Elodi, K.Y. Bello, I.K. Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal, M.S. Dahiru, and Ibrahim Al-Amin, urged the court to convict them as charged, though the defence counsel pleaded for leniency.
Justice Itsueli, in the judgment, sentenced Felix, Iziegbe and Osagie to two years’ imprisonment each, or a fine of ₦300,000.
Ogbeide, Blessed, Godspower, Gideon, Michael and Oghomwen were also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each, or a fine of ₦200,000.
Teddy and Rooney Hart each received two years’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦350,000, while Ojeisemi was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦150,000.
In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of their mobile phones, laptops, and funds traced to their bank accounts to the Federal Government, being proceeds of crime.
The convicts also signed undertakings to be of good behaviour going forward.
