The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Benin Zonal Office has secured the conviction of 15 internet fraudsters in a major crackdown on cybercrime.
The convicts, including Nosa Gift, Igbinosa Eghosa, and Nosakhare Godswill, were sentenced by Justice A. N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin City, after pleading guilty to charges of fraud, impersonation, and retention of proceeds from crime.
The fraudsters faced separate charges, including obtaining by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents. One of the charges against Gift stated that he was found in possession of documents containing false pretenses, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
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Upon their guilty pleas, the EFCC prosecutors, led by I.M. Elodi and A.A. Ibrahim Faisal, urged the court to deliver swift justice, while the defense counsel pleaded for leniency, claiming the defendants had shown remorse.
Justice Erhabor sentenced 14 of the convicts to two years imprisonment with the option of a N200,000 fine, while Ugiagbe Miracle received a three-year sentence with the same fine option. In addition, all 15 were ordered to forfeit their ill-gotten devices, including phones, laptops, and money traced to their bank accounts, to the federal government.
As part of their sentencing, the convicts also signed undertakings to exhibit good behavior going forward.
The conviction was disclosed on the commission’s verified X social media handle, on the 16th of October, 2024.