The Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, on Tuesday, June 6, sentenced no fewer than 19 internet fraudsters to prison for engaging in internet fraud.

The convicts in separate judgements by Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and Mary Itsueli were found guilty of the charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The convicts were Fidelis Esajini, Nicholas Azeke, Marvelous Alakpa, Adelike Destiny, and Osamwingie Osarenwinda.

Others were Mathias Friday Gbenga, Collins Etiosa Iyekeoretin, Anyanwu Miracle, Justice Aifo, and Emmanuel Efetobor.

Also sentenced to prison were Osahenie Uwoghiren, Emmanuel Osifo, Timothy Nowamagbe, Desmond Taiwo, Atunu Ewomaoghene, Elvis Onojebe, Promise Uduaghan, Francis Okoliko, and Omokaro Omonefe.

According to a statement issued by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the internet fraudsters were arraigned separately by the Benin Zonal office of the commission on count charges bordering on retention of proceeds of crime, fraudulent representation, and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents.

The charge against Collins Etiosa Iyekeoretin read: “That you, Collins Etiosa Iyekeoretin sometime between January 23, 2018, and May 26, 2023, in Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the control of the aggregate sum of N303,304,519:69 in your UBA bank account number: 1021606211 on behalf of Osawonyi Ella.

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“Knowing that same represents the proceeds of criminal conduct of the said Osawonyi Ella and others and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment ) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 17(b) of the same Act.”

The charge against Fidelis Esajini read. “That you, Fidelis Esajini sometime in May 2023 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud represent yourself to be one Lisa, a citizen of the United States of America, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 48, Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria (as applicable in Edo State) 1976.”

The defendants all pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the prosecution counsel,  F.A. Jirbo, I.M Elodi, Saliu Ahmed, A.A.Ibrahim, and A.S Balariba to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The counsel for the defendants, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the internet fraudsters were first-time offenders who had turned a new leaf.

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Esajini, Destiny, Osarenwinda, Gbenga, Iyekeoretin, Nowamagbe, Ewomaoghene, and Okoliko to three years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine.

Azeke, Miracle, Aifo, Efetobor, Uwoghiren, Osifo, on the other hand, bagged three-year imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.

Alakpa was committed to three-year imprisonment or a fine of N300,000, while Taiwo bagged two-year imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.”

Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced the trio of Promise Uduaghan, Elvis Onojebe, and Omokaro Omonefe to three-year imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of six vehicles –  Lexus ES350, Black Mercedes ML350, Mercedes Benz C-30 model, Mercedes Benz ML 350,  Lexus NX,  Toyota Corolla – iPad, laptops, phones, and the balance in the defendants’ bank accounts to the Federal Government through the EFCC.

The Star