The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of five internet fraudsters before Justice M. Itsueli of the Edo State High Court in Benin City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was disclosed in a statement by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday , noting that credible intelligence exposed their involvements in fraudulent internet activities<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The convicts, Ayo Korede, Ogbemudia Osaretin, Harry Ehimien, Osasumwen Osahenator and Efosa Richard, were prosecuted on separate one-count charges bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the charges read: \u201cThat you Ogbemudia Osaretin on or about the 31st of July, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession, in your iPhone 14 Pro Max, documents which you knew or ought to have known contained a false pretence 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Prosecution counsel I. M. Elodi, I. K. Agwai, K. Y. Bello, A. A. Ibrahim, Ibrahim Faisal and M. S. Dahiru urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while defence counsel appealed for leniency, saying the convicts were remorseful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justice Itsueli sentenced Korede, Osaretin, Osahenator and Richard to two years in prison each or a fine of N200,000, while Ehimien was given two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000, with an option of community service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EFCC said,\u201dAll the convicts forfeited their phones, laptop computers and balances in their respective bank accounts, being the tools and proceeds of their crimes, to the federal government, and further undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.\u201d (Punch)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n