Internet fraud: Court jails 22 convicts in Edo

By John Ogunsemore

Justice Igho Braimoh of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced 22 internet fraudsters between September 5 and 13.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) identified the convicts as Emmanuel Osakpolor Bright, Omoigui Kelvin, Isaac Jonathan, Edem Progress, Philip Desmond, Eharevba Destiny, Emmanuel Joseph, Abdulrasheed Ayatudeen, Desmond Nosakhare, Ani Micheal Chukwuemeka, Antony Oluchukwu Okocha, Abdulhafiz Abdulmumin Yamah, Eke Silver Miracle, Godstime Obasuyi and Nzubechukwu Godswill.

Others are Aliyu Tijani Ayomide, Stephen Odafe, Anderson Tega Obodo, Abijan Mudiaga Sagin, Job Samuel, Favour Nasiru and Omogaga Precious.

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC prosecuted the convicts on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Emmanuel Osakpolor Bright reads: “That you Osakpolor (m) on or about the 5th of September, 2024 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.”

All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsels, Francis Jirbo, I.M Elodi, K. Y. Bello, I.K. Agwai, Ibrahim Faisal and Ahmed Salihu to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.

Justice Braimoh afterwards convicted and sentenced Anthony Okocha, Abdulrasheed, Omoigui, Egharevba Destiny, Eke Miracle, Jonathan, Nosakhare and Godswill to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each, while Desmond, Edem Progress, Joseph Emmanuel, Chukwuemeka, Abdulhafiz, Godstime Obasuyi and Osakpolo Bright bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.

On Friday, September 13, Justice Braimoh convicted and sentenced the trio of Ayomide, Odafe and Obodo to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each, while the quartet of Sagin, Samuel, Nasiru and Precious bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 each.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of two Lexus cars recovered from Eke Miracles and Omogaga Precious being proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the convicts’ phones, laptops, and money in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.