A week after handing down sentences to 15 internet fraudsters, Justice A.N. Erhabor of the Edo State High Court in Benin City has once again delivered judgments on another group of eight fraudsters involved in cybercrime.
The commission disclosed the milestone on its official X Social media handle on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024.
The convicts, identified as Akhigbe Andrew Okhaifoh, Collins Osagie, Wisdom Imaduerehie, Imade Destiny, Chibueze Onyeji, Edubi Favour, David Precious, and Michael Osas Iguma, were each charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on various counts of fraud.
The charges included impersonation, obtaining money under false pretenses, retention of proceeds from criminal activities, and the possession of fraudulent documents.
The prosecution, led by EFCC counsel I.M Elodi, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, A.A. Ibrahim Faisal, A.S. Bala-Ribah, and Ahmed Salihu, filed separate one-count charges against the fraudsters. One of the charges, against Collins Osagie, stated: “That you, Collins Osagie, 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 pretenses, thereby committing an offense contrary to Sections 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.”
During the court proceedings, all the defendants entered guilty pleas when their charges were read to them. Their admittance of guilt prompted the EFCC prosecutors to call for swift convictions and sentencing.
The prosecution emphasized the importance of enforcing justice to serve as a deterrent to others engaged in similar fraudulent activities, while highlighting the defendants’ clear violations of the law.
In response, the defense counsel representing the eight convicts pleaded for mercy, urging the court to consider the remorse shown by the defendants.
They argued that their clients had come to terms with the gravity of their actions and were committed to turning a new leaf. The defense also submitted that the convicts had taken steps toward rehabilitation and should be given a chance for reform.
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The court, however, ruled in favor of the prosecution, sentencing the fraudsters to various jail terms. In addition to the sentences, the convicts were ordered to forfeit their electronic devices, including phones and laptops, which were used in perpetrating their crimes. The court further ruled that the funds in their bank accounts, acquired through illicit activities, be confiscated by the federal government.
Among the convicts, Collins Osagie faced an additional penalty: the forfeiture of his Lexus 2007 RX 350, which was deemed to be proceeds of his fraudulent dealings. This asset, along with the other forfeited items, will be transferred to the federal government as part of the court’s effort to strip the convicts of their ill-gotten gains.
The convicts’ journey to prison began when they were arrested by operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC during a raid aimed at curbing internet fraud in the region. The EFCC’s investigations revealed that the fraudsters had been involved in multiple scams, impersonating individuals and duping unsuspecting victims out of significant sums of money.
With this latest batch of convictions, the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Office continues its crackdown on cybercriminals, following through on its mission to rid the state of fraudulent activities. The court’s judgment underscores the seriousness of the government’s fight against internet fraud, as it seeks to uphold justice and restore confidence in the system. The convictions are part of a broader nationwide effort to tackle the growing menace of cybercrime.
