EFCC arrests 45 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 45 persons suspected to be internet fraudsters.

The suspects were arrested on Monday, following intelligence on the activities of an organised crime syndicate operating in the area.

Similarly, Justices M.S Abubakar and R.J Egbe of the Federal High Court sitting in Markurdi Benue State, convicted and sentenced five internet fraudsters to various jail terms, following their arraignment by the Markurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC.

These were according to separate statements issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, items recovered from the suspects arrested in Lagos included exotic vehicles, sophisticated mobile devices, and laptops, adding that the suspects will be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.

“Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 45 suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested on Monday, March 11, 2024, at Ikorodu, Lagos, following intelligence on the activities of an Organised Cybercrime Syndicate Network, OCSN, operating in that axis of the state.

“Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include exotic vehicles, sophisticated mobile devices, and laptops. They will soon be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations”, the statement read.

Meanwhile, the convicted internet fraudsters namely Ibi Suurshter, Onazi Oche, Innocent Ochola, Teseer Mnenge, and Agbo Lawrence were jailed after pleading guilty to one-count separate charges of internet fraud.

The statement also reads “After listening to all counsels, Justice Abubakar convicted and sentenced Suurshater to one-year imprisonment with an option of N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) as fine. Oche was convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of N600,000.00 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) as fine.

Also, the judge convicted and sentenced Ochola to two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N1,000,000,00 (One Million Naira). Terseer Mnenge was also convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment with an option of a N200,000 fine. The fifth convict, Agbo was convicted and sentenced by Justice Egbe. He bagged one year imprisonment with an option of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) as a fine. The two judges further ordered them to forfeit all their phones, being proceeds of crime, to the government.

All the convicts started their journey to the Correctional Centre when they were arrested for internet-related offences. They were investigated individually and prosecuted.