The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of 17 internet fraudsters before Justices A.N. Erhabor and W. I. Aziegbemhin of Edo State High Courts, sitting in Benin City. The convicts are: Ekene Ezerioha, Ayeleso Ayodeji Richard, Prince Unity Igbinekaro, Marvelous Adebor, Osayande Oseh, Chukwuebuka James Edozie, Clinton Osayi Okojie, Chinedu Ugwu Kingsley, Emmanuel Ezeala, Isioma Christopher, Adebayo Ayomide, Ubaro Best, Junior Oboh, Chieye Goodluck, Lucky James Isioma, Jeremiah Okwuezuru Nwadiashi, and Destiny Grace. They were prosecuted on a separate one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents. The charge against Ekene Ezerioha reads: “That you Ekene Ezerioha (m) on or about the 14th of March, 2025 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.” All the defendants pleaded “guilty” to their charge when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, Faisal Ibrahim, Al-Amin Ibrahim Abdul, Bala-Ribah and Salihu Ahmed 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 they have become remorseful for their actions. Justice Erhabor convicted and sentenced Igbinekaro, Adebor, Oseh, Edozie, Okojie, Christopher, Best, Nwadiashi, and Grace to two years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively, while he sentenced Richard, Kingsley, Ezeala, Goodluck and Isioma to three years imprisonment, each or to pay N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine respectively. On his part, Justice W.I. Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oboh, Ayomide and Ezerioha to two years imprisonment each or to pay N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, respectively. In addition to their sentences, all the convicts forfeited their phones, computers and money in their respective bank accounts to the federal government and undertook in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth. The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest in a sting operation by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
