The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster, Otede Pio Meyeoghene, to 10 years imprisonment for internet fraud.

Meyeoghene was first arraigned in 2018 by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and later re-arraigned on July 12, 2021.

Upon arraignment, the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against him by the EFCC leading to trial.

One of the charges read: “That you,  Otede Pio Meyeoghene sometime in 2015 in Warri, Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud induce Eyinoloma Demeyin to deposit the sum of N2,000,000 only into account number 2010467547 domiciled at First Bank PLC operated by you with the false pretence  that the money was for investment in waste management contract with Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt with N25,000 daily dividend as return on investment to him which pretence you knew is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Acts 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

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During the trial, the prosecution counsel, I. M Elodi, called two witnesses to prove the case against the defendant, while the defence counsel also called two witnesses.

Delivering judgement on Tuesday, June 13, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, declared that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found the defendant guilty on the three counts.

“This offence of obtaining under false pretence is an endemic disease that needs an urgent diagnosis and treatment and it is important to put a punitive sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others,” the judge stated.

Justice Abang convicted and sentenced the internet fraudster to 10 years imprisonment on each of the counts without an option of fine, adding that the sentences should run concurrently.

The judge also ordered the internet fraudster to return to the nominal complainant the outstanding sum of N2,095,000 with 21 per cent interest per annum from 2015 until fully liquidated.

The Star