Eight Internet fraudsters jailed in Benin
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Benin Zonal Command operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have secured the conviction and sentence of eight Internet fraudsters to different jail terms.
Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin, the state capital, sentenced the convicted fraudsters who include Akhigbe Andrew Okhaifoh, Collins Osagie, Wisdom Imaduerehie, Imade Destiny, Chibueze Onyeji, Edubi Favour, David Precious, and Michael Osas Iguma.
The convicts according to a statement by EFCC on Tuesday, were charged on counts of impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The statement enunciates, “Justice A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin has convicted and sentenced eight internet fraudsters to various jail terms.
“The convicts are Akhigbe Andrew Okhaifoh, Collins Osagie, Wisdom Imaduerehie, Imade Destiny, Chibueze Onyeji, Edubi Favour, David Precious, and Michael Osas Iguma.
“They were prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on separate one-count charges, bordering on impersonation, obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents.”
The charge against Osagie reads, “That you Collins Osagie (m) on or about the 30th of September, 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 committed 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.”
However, EFCC stated that all the defendants pleaded ‘guilty’ to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, I.M Elodi, K Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, A.A. Ibrahim Faisal, A. S. Bala-Ribah and Ahmed Salihu to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly, while counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that his clients have become remorseful for their actions.
“Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Okhaifoh, Imaduerehie, Osagie, Onyeji, Favour, Precious and Destiny to two years imprisonment each or to pay a fine of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira), respectively, while Iguma bagged three years imprisonment or to pay a fine of N200,000.00,” it added.
