LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has sentenced 19 persons to prison for internet fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed this via its Twitter handle @officialEFCC on Wednesday.
It stated that Justices Efe Ikponmwonba and M. Itsueli made the pronouncement during the court sitting on 6 June.
The are identified as Fidelis Esajini, Nicholas Azeke, Marvelous Alakpa, Adelike Destiny, Osamwingie Osarenwinda, Mathias Gbenga; Collins Iyekeoretin, Anyanwu Miracle, Justice Aifo, Emmanuel Efetobor.
Others are Osahenie Uwoghiren, Emmanuel Osifo, Timothy Nowamagbe, Desmond Taiwo, Atunu Ewomaoghene, Elvis Onojebe, Promise Uduaghan, Francis Okoliko and Omokaro Omonefe.
They were reportedly arraigned separately on a one-count charge bordering on retention of proceeds of crime, fraudulent representation and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Upon arraignment, all the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting the Prosecution counsel, F.A. Jirbo, I.M Elodi, Saliu Ahmed, A.A. Ibrahim and AS Balariba to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
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However, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders who had turned a new leaf.
The statement read, “Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Esajini, Destiny, Osarenwinda, Gbenga, Iyekeoretin, Nowamagbe, Ewomaoghene and Okoliko to three years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 as fine.
“Azeke, Miracle, Aifo, Efetobor, Uwoghiren and Osifo were sentenced to three years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 each.
“Alakpa bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N300,000 while Taiwo bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.”
Justice Itsueli convicted and sentenced Promise Uduaghan, Elvis Onojebe and Omokaro Omonefe to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
The court also ordered that 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 be forfeited to the Federal Government through the EFCC.
