13 Internet fraudsters jailed 30 years in Edo

Thirteen Internet fraudsters have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison following their conviction by an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, the state capital.

According to Metro gathered from a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Sunday, that the judgements were delivered in separate proceedings between November 11 and November 14, 2024.

The statement noted that the convicts were arrested and prosecuted for their involvement in cybercrime activities, including obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents, among others.

The EFCC identified the convicts as Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, Afisi Nurudeen, Oviabor Aisosa Wellington, and Evbayekha Desmond.

Others are Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, Wisdom Adolor, Onyebuchi Goodness, and Promise Omoru.

The statement continued, “They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.

“The charge against Evbayakha Daniel reads: That you, Daniel (m), on or about October 30, 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 committing 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 counsel, F.A Jirbo, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed 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.”

It added that upon their guilty plea, Justice A.N. Erhabor on November 11 convicted and sentenced Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, and Afisi Nurudeen, to two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine each.

It continued, “On Wednesday, November 13, Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oviabor Aisosa Wellington and Evbayekha Desmond to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

“On Thursday, November 14, the quartet of Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, and Promise Omoru were convicted and sentenced by Justice Aziegbemhin to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 while the duo of Wisdom Adolor and Onyebuchi Goodness bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.”

The statement concluded that the court ordered the forfeiture of exhibits retrieved from the convicts, which included “phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.”