The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, the state capital, has convicted and sentenced no fewer than eight internet fraudsters to prison.

Those sentenced by the court on Thursday, August 3, 2023, were 21-year-old Kennedy Irabor Osasogie, Emmanuel Kayode Luma, Oneh Endurance, Yadina Chukwudi, Amalawa Kingsley, Lucky Junior Atailegbe, Aikorogie Osarenmwinda, and Kelvin Amenze.

The spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that Osasogie was arrested following a petition by a German citizen, Antje Kdla, who alleged that the defendant defrauded her of huge sums of money.

Uwujaren noted that investigations by operatives of the EFCC found the defendant culpable of the offence, adding that seven other defendants were arrested following intelligence on their nefarious activities.

They were subsequently arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on retention of proceeds of illegal activities and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the EFCC.

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Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A.Jirbo, IK Agwai, Al-Amin. A. Ibrahim, and Ibrahim Faisal to ask the court to convict and sentence them.

The defence counsel, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who had become remorseful for their actions.

The presiding judge, Justice M. Itsueli, convicted and sentenced Osasogie to three years imprisonment with an option of N300,000 as fine.

Luma, Oneh, Chukwudi, and Kingsley were each sentenced to three years imprisonment with the option of N200,000 fine, while Osawerinde and Amenze were sent to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

Otailegbe was sentenced to one month imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine.

The judge declared that Osasogie forfeits the sum of €7,040 recovered from him during the investigation to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the EFCC for onward delivery to the nominal complainant, Antje Kdla, through the German Embassy in Nigeria.

Justice Itsueli further ordered that one Toyota Highlander, one black Toyota Venza, and the balance in the convicts’ Nigerian bank accounts, phones and laptops being proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Star